The Harvard Crimson - Volume CL, No. 3 by The Harvard Crimson

THE HARVARD CRIMSON THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873

| VOLUME CL, NO. 3 |

CAMPUS GROUPS

LABOR

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

OPINION

SPORTS

Sayed Faisal Should Have Received Help, Not a Bullet

Harvard Beats Boston College 4-3 in Beanpot Semifinal

PAGE 9

PAGE 14

| FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Student Orgs Raise $30,000+ for Turkey, Syria EARTHQUAKE RELIEF. On campus, affinity groups have organized fundraisers to raise money for victims of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. SEE PAGE 7

The Push to Unionize

GOVERNMENT

Skepticism over Wu’s BPDA Reforms BPDA CONTROVERSY. Allston residents expressed skepticism over proposed changes to the Boston Planning and Development Agency, whose powers bypass public accountability, critics say. SEE PAGE 10

UNION DRIVES LAUNCHED. This week, two unionization campaigns hit Harvard’s campus — one for non-tenure-track faculty members and one for undergraduate student employeees. Harvard Academic Workers-United Automobile Workers formally launched a card authorization drive Monday, while Harvard Undergraduate Workers Union is seeking supporters. SEE PAGE 5

SAMI E. TURNER—CRIMSON DESIGNER, JOEY HUANG—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

HARVARD LAW SCHOOL

Harvard Law Student Charged With Assaulting Student In Homophobic Attack BY JO B. LEMANN, YUSUF S. MIAN,

THEATER

AND NEIL H. SHAH CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

A Hasty Pudding Honors Bob Odenkirk MAN OF THE YEAR. Bob Odenkirk was honored by the centuries-old theater troupe on Feb. 2 in a night of festivities complete with wacky outfits and comedic jabs. SEE PAGE 11

Harvard Law School student was arrested after allegedly assaulting a fellow HLS student in a homophobic attack last month, according to a Harvard University Police report. According to the report, HLS student Naod N. Nega approached another student outside Langdell Hall on the afternoon of Jan. 23 and repeatedly punched the student, calling him a homophobic slur. Nega has been charged with assault and battery for the purpose of intimidation — a hate crime under Massachusetts state law. He pleaded not guilty to the

SEE PAGE 4

Search For New FAS Dean Begins

More than 100 Petition HKS Dean to Resign

CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

EDUCATION

SEE PAGE 4

ment. Monica E. Monroe, HLS assistant dean for community engagement, equity, and belonging, and Stephen L. Ball, HLS assistant dean and dean of students, wrote in an email sent to HLS students roughly nine hours after the attack that HUPD found no “immediate threat” to campus. “We condemn unconditionally all violence, hatred, and homophobia, and will continue to work to foster a campus in which members of our Law School and University community feel welcome, safe, and included,” they wrote in the email. The deans’ email referred to Nega as “an individual affiliated with HLS,” though some students said they were upset with what they viewed as a lack of specificity in the statement.

HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL

AND ELIAS J. SCHISGALL

CURRICULUM BAN. Harvard faculty and Cambridge Rindge and Latin School affiliates criticized the Florida governor’s decision to ban Advanced Placement course “African American Studies.”

the initial assault. A press release issued by CPD last week said a Cambridge male assaulted at least five staff members while at a local hospital. Warnick confirmed in an email that the press release referenced Nega. “The male was initially sectioned to a local hospital on Monday, January 23rd after he was threatening students on campus with a baseball bat, used racial slurs, punched a college student in an unprovoked attack, and intimidated them due their sexual orientation,” the CPD press release reads. At his arraignment, Nega was ordered to undergo treatment and evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital and will return to court for a status hearing on Feb. 16. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office did not respond to requests for com-

FAS

BY RAHEM D. HAMID

Affiliates Criticize AP Course Ban

charge at a Jan. 27 arraignment. Nega’s attorney, Alice L. Purple, declined a request for comment. According to the police report, a witness believed Nega to be either under the influence of narcotics or off medication and reported Nega was in possession of a baseball bat. The police report also states that Nega, who is currently on a leave of absence from HLS, was previously involved in multiple incidents involving “aggressive and violent behavior.” HLS spokesperson Jeff Neal declined to comment on Nega’s current status at the school, citing privacy laws. Cambridge Police Department spokesperson Jeremy C. Warnick wrote in an email that CPD officers served a warrant for Nega’s arrest at a local hospital, where Nega was involuntarily transported after

The search for Harvard’s next dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest academic school, launched Tuesday afternoon, FAS Dean and University President-elect Claudine Gay announced in an email to FAS affiliates. Gay and University Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 will lead the search, with assistance from a 14-person advisory committee composed of 12 FAS professors, Dean of Harvard Law School John F. Manning ’82, and Harvard Business School professor Tsedal Neeley. The FAS professors come from all three academic divisions and span more than a dozen academic departments. Gay said selecting a candidate to succeed her at the helm of Harvard’s biggest school will be one of her “first and most important tasks as president-elect.”

“We hope to benefit from views from across the FAS community and beyond as we seek to identify an outstanding new leader of the FAS,” Gay wrote. Gay’s email did not provide a timeline for the search or specify to what extent Harvard’s current president, Lawrence S. Bacow, will be involved. Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain declined to comment on a timeline or Bacow’s involvement. In recent decades, FAS deans have stepped down at around the same time as the University president. Gay’s search for her successor will be the fourth consecutive time a president-elect or first-year president has appointed a new FAS dean. In her email, Gay invited FAS faculty, students, and staff to provide insights on the future of the FAS or nominate potential candidates via a survey or a dedicated email for the search. “We particularly invite your thoughts

SEE PAGE 7

BY MILES J. HERSZENHORN CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

More than 100 people signed a petition calling on Harvard Kennedy School Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf to resign after The Crimson reported he is forcing out online misinformation expert Joan M. Donovan from her role at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy and ending her research project. The petition — which passed 100 signatures Wednesday afternoon — demands Elmendorf’s resignation, the continuation of Donovan’s Technology and Social Change project, and the hiring of Donovan as a full faculty member at HKS. It also requests the reversal of the Harvard policy that stipulates research projects must be led by tenured faculty members. “Donovan is tirelessly dedicated to uncovering bad actors online, teaching her students how to do the same, and promoting social justice throughout her work,”

the petition stated. “Defunding and stripping her of a position at HKS will only hurt the institution and prevent students from becoming effective beacons of truth, justice, and power.” This petition is the second in the span of one month to call for Elmendorf’s resignation. More than one thousand Harvard affiliates signed a similar petition in January after he blocked former Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth from a fellowship at the school’s Carr Center for Human Rights. Amid backlash, Elmendorf reversed course and offered Roth the fellowship. The Crimson reported last week that the Kennedy School is shutting down the Technology and Social Change project, which has been led by Donovan at the Shorenstein Center since 2019. The project is set to end by June 2024. Devika Balachandran, who authored the petition calling for Donovan to be

SEE PAGE 7

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

LAST WEEK

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

COLLEGE

LABOR

IN MEMORIAM

HUA Launches Career Clothing

HUCTW Pickets in Harvard Yard

Harvard Remembers Ash Carter

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS. The Harvard Undergraduate Association held the grand opening of the University’s first Crimson Career Closet Monday afternoon on the 10th floor of the Smith Campus Center in partnership with Common Spaces and the Office of Career Services. HUA Co-President Travis Allen Johnson ’24 said he felt the opening of the clothing closet was a “huge success” and anticipates a “great reception from students” in its future iterations. BY NATALIE K BANDURA —CRIMSON STAFF

PICKETING AT MASS. HALL. Members of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers gathered outside Massachusetts Hall Tuesday to demand the University grant a higher pay raise as Harvard and the union enter month 10 of contract negotiations. HUCTW’s last contract expired on Sept. 30, 2022. The current negotiations, which started in April 2022, are the longest in the union’s history since 2013. After negotiating privately since April, HUCTW and the University began meeting through a third-party mediator in November. BY CAM E. KETTLES AND

MEMORIAL CHURCH SERVICE. Students, colleagues, and Harvard affiliates joined friends and family to celebrate the life and memory of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter at Memorial Church on Wednesday morning. Carter served as the director of Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs for five years until he died from a heart attack on Oct. 24 at 68 years old. U.S. President Joe Biden called Carter a “force of nature” at a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral last month. BY ASHER

JULIA A. MACIEJAK—CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

J. MONTGOMERY—CRIMSON STAFF WRITTER

WRITER

Get breaking news. thecrimson.com/subscribe

The Week in Photos

AROUND THE IVIES PALESTINE SOLIDARITY COALITION OF DARTMOUTH HOSTS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ISRAEL AND PALESTINE DIRECTOR OMAR SHAKIR

MARCH FOR FAISAL CALLS FOR JUSTICE. Protestors stormed City Hall to demand justice for Sayed Faisal, who was fatally shot by a Cambridge Police Department officer. They called on city officials to release the names of the officers involved in the shotting. JULIAN J. GIORDANO—

Approximately 50 Dartmouth students gathered to listen to Omar Shakir speak at an event hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Coalition of Dartmouth, The Dartmouth reported Tuesday. In his talk, Shakir claimed that the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians qualifies as “apartheid” and asserted that they were guilty of crimes against humanity.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

THE DARTMOUTH

THC

STUDENTS, CLIMATE ACTIVISTS PROTEST CITIBANK RECRUITMENT EVENT

Read more at THECRIMSON.COM

On Tuesday afternoon, over a dozen student and city climate activists gathered outside of a Citibank recruiting event to protest the company’s historical and current investment in the fossil fuel and coal industries, per The Columbia Spectator. The student organizers were from Sunrise Columbia, a chapter of the national climate justice organization The Sunrise Movement. Alice Hu, a Columbia alumna and campaigner for New York Communities for Change claimed that the bank is one of the largest funders of fossil fuels and funding the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest. THE COLUMBIA SPECTATOR

LAST YEAR, OVER 99% OF POLITICAL DONATIONS MADE BY PENN FACULTY WENT TO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, 99.7% of political donations made by The University of Pennsylvania faculty were made out to democratic candidates, with the majority being given during the midterm elections. Faculty members made close to 4,000 individual donations, totaling over $300,000, The Daily Pennsylvanian reported Tuesday. Data obtained from the Federal Election Commission reported that Penn faculty donations increased nearly 130% between the 2016 and 2020 midterms. THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

CONVERSATION WITH GILLIAN TETT. In a conversation moderated by Jason Furman ’92, journalist and author Gillian Tett described anthropology as one of the “most unrecognized” tools for social scientists at a Harvard Institute of Politics forum on Monday. She discussed the role anthropology can have in helping economists better understand the world and its challenges. BY ADDISON Y. LIU—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

SUNSET. By the John W. Weeks Memorial Bridge, the sun sets in the backdrop of the Charles River. BY MADELEINE A. HUNG—CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

SCIENCE CENTER PLAZA. Students indulge in fun games like curling and ice shuffleboard outside of the Science Center as part of Plaza WinterFest. BY JOEY HUANG—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

YALE SHIFTS FROM LONG-STANDING TREND AND REJECTS MORE EARLY APPLICANTS THAN IT DEFERRED During the early application cycle for the Class of 2027, Yale University shifted from their tradition of deferring more applicants than they denied, the Yale Daily News reported Tuesday. With this year’s pool of 7,744 early applicants, the university rejected 67% of applicants while deferring only 21%. Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid Jeremiah Quinlan said this shift over the past three admissions cycles was motivated by an increase in applicants and feedback from college counselors. In 2025, the college experienced the largest number of applicants in its history. Since then, the admissions committee has aimed to “make more final decisions sooner.” THE YALE DAILY NEWS

ROTH AT IOP. Former Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth spoke about the Kennedy School’s decision to veto, then reinstate, his fellowship. BY JULIAN J. GIORDANO— cRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

VANCE JOY CONCERT. Part of his “In Our Own Sweet Time” tour, the singer performed some of his most popular hits Wednesday evening at MGM Music Hall at Fenway. BY ADDISON

‘SEEN AND UNSEEN.’ Showcased at the HBS’s Baker Library, “Seen and Unseen” is a collection that explores representations of Native Americans in the popular imagination. BY

Y. LIU—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

MARINA QU—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

HUCTW RALLY. Members of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers gathered on Tuesday to demand the University grant higher pay increases to the union’s employees. BY JULIAN J. GIORDANO—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

NEXT WEEK

THE HARVARD CRIMSON FEBRUARY 10, 2023

What’s Next

IN THE REAL WORLD POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE HITS SOUTHERN TURKEY AND NORTHERN SYRIA A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, with death tolls reaching over 15,000 as of Wednesday. The earthquake could be felt in Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, and Lebanon, and was one of the strongest recorded earthquakes in Turkey since 1939, according to the New York Times. Recep Tayyip Edroğan, President of Turkey, has declared seven days of national mourning. Turks and Syrians around the world — in addition to the United Nations, the European Union, and other countries — have provided aid and support.

ZELENSKY ASKS BRITAIN AND FRANCE FOR FIGHTER JETS Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky made surprise visits to Great Britain and France on Wednesday, asking leaders for fighter jets. After lunch with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London, Zelensky flew to Paris for dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to the New York Times, Zelensky said that warplanes — which he said represented “wings of freedom” — were needed in efforts against a new Russian offensive mobilizing to the east of Ukraine. Sunak and Macron did not agree to send any warplanes as of the visits.

Start every week with a preview of what’s on the agenda around Harvard University

Friday 2/10

Monday 2/13

Wednesday 2/15

THE FROMM PLAYERS FEATURING KLANGFORUM WIEN

ENERGY POLICY SEMINAR: DAVID TURK ON “POWERING THE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE”

WRITING ON STILL LIFE

Sanders Theatre, 8-10 p.m. Viennese contemporary music ensemble Klangforum Wien will perform new works from composers Enno Poppe and Chaya Czernowin at this free concert in Sanders Theater.

Saturday 2/11

Harvard Kennedy School, 12-1:15 p.m. Come hear Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy David Turk speak on “Powering the Clean Energy Future,” followed by a Q&A session.

Thursday 2/16

Tuesday 2/14

INDIA CONFERENCE AT HARVARD 2023

Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School & Virtual, All Day As India celebrates 75 years of independence, this 20th edition of the annual India Conference at Harvard features the theme “Vision 2047: India at 100 Years of Independence” with panels on policy, business, and culture.

Virtual, 6-7 p.m. Harvard art history graduate student Alejandro Octavio Nodarse and Sara Petrilli-Jones from Yale University examine Margaretha da Heer’s still-life drawing “Still Life of Flowers and Small Animals on a Ledge.”

BUILD A BEAR ON VALENTINE’S DAY Cabot Science Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Back by popular demand, the Dean of Students Office is hosting a special Valentine’s Day celebration where students can create a personalized teddy bear and write Valentine’s Day cards.

THE HEISENBERG VARIATIONS: IMAGINATION, INVENTION, AND UNCERTAINTY

Harvard Radcliffe Institute Knafel Center & Virtual, 4-5 p.m. Jennifer Finney Boylan — a novelist and human rights advocate — discusses how art revision and reinvention in affect our way of life.

Friday 2/17

Sunday 2/12

BROTHER OUTSIDER: THE LIFE OF BAYARD RUSTIN WITH JEROME OFFORD

STEP INTO ART WITH INSPIRATION FROM KEHINDE WILEY

Harvard Film Archive, 7-9 p.m. Enjoy a screening of the film “Brother Outsider,” followed by an interactive discussion on the topic of Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of the Beloved Community.

Harvard Art Museums, 12- 3 p.m. Come for a chance to take photos of American painter Kehinde Wiley’s portraits in the Materials Lab.

BIDEN ASKS CONGRESS FOR PARTISAN UNITY AND HELP ‘FINISHING THE JOB’ In his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Joe Biden asked for bipartisan efforts in passing economic legislation that does not yield to Republican requests. Unlike the two previous Democratic presidents who shifted their agendas to be more conciliatory after losing at least one chamber of Congress after midterm elections, Biden does not plan to change course, according to the New York Times.

CLOUDY CAMPUS

U.S. OFFICIALS OBSERVE CHINA’S SPY BALLOON ON ITS LONGEST TRANSIT YET Unlike previous sightings, the latest balloon’s trip across the United States has given U.S. intelligence agencies ample time to study the balloon’s capabilities.. In an effort to gather information and data about American military bases in addition to other nations, China has deployed spy balloons. Dating back to the Trump administration, China has sent spy balloons all over the world as part of their global surveillance effort, according to the New York Times. As opposed to satellites, balloons have some advantages such as the ability to fly closer to Earth and evade radars. Pentagon spokesperson Patrick S. Ryder said that Chinese balloons have been deployed over Latin America, South America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe at a news conference on Wednesday.

THE HARVARD CRIMSON Cara J. Chang ’24 President

STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE Brandon L. Kingdollar ’24

Cynthia V. Lu ’24

Managing Editor

Business Manager

Magazine Chairs Io Y. Gilman ’25 Amber H. Levis ’25

Design Chairs Sophia Salamanca ’25 Sami E. Turner ’25

Eleanor V. Wikstrom ’24 Christina M. Xiao ’24

Blog Chairs Tina Chen ’24 Hana Rehman ’25

Multimedia Chairs Joey Huang ’24 Julian J. Giordano ’25

Arts Chairs Anya L. Henry ’24 Alisa S. Regassa ’24

Sports Chairs Mairead B. Baker ’24 Aaron B. Schuchman ’25

Technology Chairs Kevin Luo ’24 Justin Y. Ye ’24

Associate Managing Editors Leah J. Teichholtz ’24 Meimei Xu ’24 Editorial Chairs

Associate Business Manager Derek S. Chang ’24 Copyright 2023, The Harvard Crimson (USPS 236-560). No articles, editorials, cartoons or any part thereof appearing in The Crimson may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the President. The Associated Press holds the right to reprint any materials published in The Crimson. The Crimson is a non-profit, independent corporation, founded in 1873 and incorporated in 1967. Second-class postage paid in Boston, Massachusetts. Published Monday through Friday except holidays and during vacations, three times weekly during reading and exam periods by The Harvard Crimson Inc., 14 Plympton St., Cambridge, Mass. 02138

Night Editors Sarah Girma ’24 Ariel H. Kim ’24 Assistant Night Editors Jina H. Choe ’26 Alexander I. Fung ’25 Kate Delval Gonzalez ’25 Caroline K. Hsu ’26 Ella L. Jones ’25 Linda Zhang ’26 Story Editors James R. Jolin ’24 Brandon L. Kingdollar ’24 Vivi E. Lu ’24

Leah J. Teichholtz ’24 Andy Z. Wang ’23-’24 Meimei Xu ’24 Eric Yan ’24

Addison Y. Liu ’25 Claire Yuan ’25 Maria S. Cheng ’26 Editorial Editor

Design Editors Laurinne P. Eugenio ’26 Nayeli Cardozo ’25 Toby R. Ma ’24 Sami E. Turner ’25

Christina M. Xiao ’24

Photo Editors Cory K. Gorczycki ’24 Joey Huang ’24 Julian J. Giordano ’25 Christopher L. Li ’25

Arts Editors

Sports Editors

Mairead B. Baker ’24 Aaron B. Schuchman ’25 Zachary J. Lech ’24

CORRECTIONS The Harvard Crimson is committed to accuracy in its reporting. Factual errors are corrected promptly on this page. Readers with information about errors are asked to e-mail the managing editor at managingeditor@thecrimson.com.

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

NEWS

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

AP COURSE BAN

Faculty Criticize AP Course Ban COURSE DISCOURSE. Affiliates rue ban on AP African American Studies. BY AZUSA M. LIPPIT CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

arvard faculty and Cambridge Rindge and Latin School affiliates condemned a ban of the College Board’s Advanced Placement course “African American Studies” in Florida by the state’s Governor Ron DeSantis, who alleges the course puts “indoctrination” over education. The course—which was developed by a committee that included Harvard professors Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr. and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham— launched as a pilot program in 60 high schools for the 2022-2023 academic year. This fall, more than 500 high schools will join the program before it is widely offered in fall 2024. DeSantis, who graduated from Harvard Law School in 2005, announced a statewide ban on the AP course last month due to what he described as a misalignment with Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act,” which prohibits schools from teaching critical race theory—the cross-disciplinary study of institutional racism. The College Board published post-pilot changes to the course on Feb. 1, which include a move away from critical race theory. Still, an internal document circulated to teachers by the College Board denies that the course was altered “to appease” conservatives or the state of Florida, instead describing that changes incorporated recommendations from hundreds of professors. Harvard Kennedy School professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad called DeSantis’ rejection of the course a “frontal assault on the independence of educators.” “When there is an explicit or implicit challenge to an

AP course that will more or less shape the curriculum of all students taking the class in all classrooms around the nation — and every college and university that will receive an appeal for credit from students who pass the exam associated with it — that’s a national issue,” Muhammad said. “People need to see that for what it is.” Muhammad is one of 200 African American Studies faculty in higher education from across the U.S. who penned an open letter on Jan. 31 to condemn DeSantis’ ban. The letter had more than 700 signatures as of Monday evening. “The contention that an AP curriculum in African American studies ‘lacks educational value’ is a proposition supported by white supremacist ideology, because it fundamentally demeans the history, culture, and contributions of Black people,” the letter reads. Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Meira L. Levinson, who spoke against DeSantis’ block, said it is “important to explore lots of different dimensions of African American culture and life and history.” “It’s important to recognize that this is an African American Studies course that’s being proposed, and not just an African American history class that’s being proposed,” Levinson said. Levinson also cited research that shows the positive benefits of taking ethnic studies courses for some students. “There’s a growing body of research that is pretty clear that these courses can have really important effects—positive effects—on kids’ learning, kids’ attendance, kids’ graduation rates, kids’ sense of self-confidence, self-efficacy,” Levinson said. One of the 60 high schools that participated in the pilot program this year is Cambridge Rindge and Latin, a public school in Cambridge.

CRLS history teacher Rachel Williams-Giordano said she was “jumping at the opportunity” to teach AP African American Studies after first hearing about the course. “My hope is that I will see the same amount of kids and enthusiasm that enroll into my APUSH and AP Government and Politics class in my AP African American Studies class,” Williams-Giordano said. Williams-Giordano said she made an effort to prioritize a diversity of perspectives—including “conservative ideology”—in her version of the pilot course. “Some of the more wellknown Black conservatives, I use their frame of argument—like Candace Owens was frequently used in the class,” Williams-Giordano said. “Despite what Governor DeSantis is saying, I do—and other AP African American Studies teachers—we try to bring in alternative perspectives.” CRLS’ iteration of the course included debates on topics including reparations, the teaching of critical race theory, and rapper Kanye West, according to Williams-Giordano and her students. “We had a whole unit and we had a debate every day of the week. And she assigned our groups; we had to argue for whatever side we were assigned on whether we personally agreed with that or not,” said Ruth Andre, a member of Williams-Giordano’s AP African American Studies class. Helen Hailemariam, a senior at CRLS, said taking Williams-Giordano’s class last fall felt like being in a “family.” “I didn’t feel like I had to be the model minority,” CRLS senior Halima Osman said. “I could come into the room being loud and I wasn’t the loud Black woman in the room.” Still, Hailemariam—an incoming freshman at Harvard— said the opportunity to take AP African American Studies should not be “a privilege.” “I should be able to learn about a history that’s in relation to my identity, and I should be able to feel affirmed, my classroom experience should be supportive, it should be collaborative, and I shouldn’t feel like I have to sacrifice parts of my identity or ways of being to fit in,” Hailemariam said.

Rules on Harvard Branding Guidelines Affect Some Clubs BY J. SELLERS HILL AND MAKANAKA NYANDORO CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

A renewed effort by the Harvard College Dean of Students Office to restrict the use of Harvard branding by student organizations could alter the branding of multiple student groups. New organizations must include either “Harvard Undergraduate” or “Harvard College” and “Student(s)” in their name, according to a resource guide published by the Student Organization Center at Hilles. The rule only applies to clubs formed after 1998, when the restriction first took effect, according to DSO spokesperson Aaron M. Goldman. Organizations such as the Harvard Outing Club, which was established in 1939, are exempt from the rule, as are clubs that do not include the word “Harvard” in their names. Several prominent student organizations appear to be in violation of the rule, including Harvard College Consulting Group, Harvard College Economics Review, and Harvard College Open Data Project. Others have modified their name in recent months to align with the regulations. The guidelines, which dictate student-run clubs’ use of the Harvard name and branding, have been in effect since the late 1990s but are being enforced with renewed urgency, according to Associate Dean for Student Engagement Jason R. Meier. “This request is not new, but there is more of an urgency,” Meier said in an interview last week. “It’s important and we really do need to resolve this issue,” he said. Lucy M. Ding ’24, co-president of Harvard College Open Data Project, said the organization is working to change its name to “some variation that is not in violation of the naming rule.” Harvard College Consulting Group and Harvard College Eco-

The Student Organization Center at Hilles is located at 59 Shepard St in the Radcliffe Quadrangle. JENNIFER Z. LIANG—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

nomics Review did not respond to requests for comment. Harvard Undergraduate Consulting on Business and the Environment, a student-run consulting group founded in 2008, referred to itself on its website as “Harvard Consulting on Business and the Environment” as recently as December, internet archives show. The organization did not respond to a request for comment on whether or not the change was in response to the newly enforced rules. Per the resource guide, the naming rules exist to distinguish student organizations from official representatives and actions of the College and University. “Student organizations must make it clear, in all instances and contexts, that they and their related activities are student activities, and not activities of the College or the University as a whole,” the guide reads. The guide also describes restrictions on how clubs can abbreviate their names, specifically that acronyms “may not be

a hybrid of the Harvard name (spelled out) plus an acronym,” a rule seemingly violated by Harvard Undergraduate Women in Computer Science, whose website branding refers to the organization as “Harvard WiCS.” “We are the Harvard Undergraduate Women in CS,” club co-president Karly Hou ’23 wrote in an emailed statement. Harvard Undergraduate Film Club President Aidin R. Kamali ’25 wrote that the club’s name change this semester—a switch from the Harvard College Society for the Cinematic Arts—“might unfortunately turn away grad students.” Still, some club leaders, including Kamali and Ding, said they are not fazed by the name changes. “We plan on complying with the rule and don’t really believe that it greatly impacts our organization or our purpose on campus and beyond,” Ding wrote in an emailed statement. sellers.hill@thecrimson.com makanaka.nyandoro@thecrimson.com

azusa.lippit@thecrimson.com sellers.hill@thecrimson.com makanaka.nyandoro@thecrimson.com

Harvard faculty and Cambridge Rindge and Latin School affiliates condemned a ban of the AP African American Studies course in Florida. TRUONG L. NGUYEN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

HLS CRIME FROM PAGE 1

HLS Student Attacks Student “We have the right to know that it was another student who was involved,” said Gabrielle L. Crofford, who serves as campus advocacy chair for Lambda, an LGBTQ+ affinity group at the Law School. “Our perspective is that the more vague that they are, the more students are going to be stressed,” she added. “And not just queer students, because everyone’s wondering, ‘Are we safe on campus right now?’” “No one should be harmed, harassed, or discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” wrote HLS Dean John F. Manning ’82 in a statement. “We will continue to work to support the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community, and to ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome on our campus.” Crofford said the assault is part of a larger pattern of homophobia on the Law School’s

campus, citing violent threats emailed to LGBTQ+ Harvard affiliates in August 2022. Three days after the assault, anti-abortion advocacy group Harvard Law Students for Life hosted Notre Dame law professor Sherif Girgis — a prominent opponent of same-sex marriage. Crofford said the event made her feel less safe in the context of the assault. Harvard Law Students for Life and Girgis did not respond to requests for comment. Neal declined to comment on criticisms of the Law School’s response to the assault or broader claims about homophobia on the school’s campus. Lambda member Sean V. McDonough said HLS has provided a forum for prominent conservatives, a stance they said is at odds with the school’s aim “to be supportive of queer students.” Crofford said the climate on campus contributed to the as-

sault. “Someone just got attacked— so we don’t need to ask questions of, ‘What does letting homophobic thought on campus lead to?’ This is what it leads to,” she said. “It leads to people getting punched and called slurs on our campus.” The Law School hosted a meeting on Feb. 2 for students to discuss the assault with Monroe, Ball, and HLS Campus Safety. Crofford called for institutional change at the Law School in the wake of the assault. “We need to have a culture change because ultimately, the culture at HLS right now is not one that protects and values queer students,” Crofford said. “It’s one that protects and values concepts of academic freedom,” she added. jo.lemann@thecrimson.com yusuf.mian@thecrimson.com neil.shah@thecrimson.com

COVER STORY

THE HARVARD CRIMSON FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Students and Faculty Seek to Unionize JOEY HUANG—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Faculty Launch Union Drive

Students Publicize Union Effort

NON-TENURE-TRACK faculty launched a card campaign to unionize about 6,000 teachers and researchers at Harvard.

UNDERGRAD WORKERS who are not represented by the graduate students union launched efforts to unionize late last month.

BY CAM E. KETTLES AND JULIA A. MACIEJAK CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

arvard non-tenure-track faculty members announced their plans to form a union, launching a public card campaign for official recognition Monday. In a press release, Harvard Academic Workers-United Automobile Workers stated that it seeks to bargain a contract for the University’s non-tenure-track faculty, which includes lecturers, preceptors, postdoctoral fellows, instructors, researchers, teaching assistants, and adjunct faculty. Non-tenure-track faculty may only hold teaching appointments up to eight years. “What I want to see is for me and the roughly 6,000 other nontenure-track faculty — teachers and researchers across Harvard — for us to have a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions that get made that impact those working conditions,” said Thomas A. Dichter ’08, lecturer in History and Literature. HAW-UAW is demanding a contract that improves job security, parental leave, and health insurance; addresses inequalities in child care support; increases protections for international workers; and strengthens measures against discrimination, harassment, and bullying. “We are banding together because people are being taken advantage of, because one person’s voice cannot get very far with the Harvard Corporation,” said Mary J. Brown, adjunct assistant professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “Together we are stronger and hopefully we can make the situation better for all of us.” University spokesperson Jason A. Newton declined to comment. Organizers said contracts for non-tenure-track faculty — called letters of appointment — do not adequately protect employees or provide them with job security. “Harvard administrators can make changes to our appointments without having to explain themselves, without having to give us notice,” Social Studies lecturer Ana I. Keilson said. Michaela J. Thompson, an instructor at the Harvard Extension School, said the contracts are “entirely Harvard-facing.” “We have no voice in Harvard governance,” she added. “We’re not included on committees or in meetings in which our fate is decided.” Last Thursday, The Crimson reported that Harvard Kennedy School Dean Doug W. Elemendorf is forcing out non-tenure-

track faculty member Joan Donovan, according to three Kennedy School staff members. According to Kennedy School spokesperson James F. Smith, the school is winding down her project “because it does not have intellectual and academic leadership by a full HKS faculty member, as required of all longterm research and outreach projects at HKS.” Organizers said compensation is among the most important issues for the new unionization campaign. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Cambridge is $2,700, according to Cambridge Open Data. HAW-UAW organizers said many non-tenure-track employees make as little as $50,000 per year. “We live in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, and we are not compensated in a way that is commensurate with how expensive it is to live here,” Dichter said. “I have two kids in daycare, and their daycare bill every month is more than my entire paycheck for my half-time position teaching History and Literature,” he added. HAW-UAW is affiliated with the long-standing UAW, which is also the parent union of Harvard’s graduate student union. Organizers have been planning the unionization campaign since 2018, according to Keilson and Thompson. Many HAWUAW organizers have previously been part of unionization efforts at other institutions. “Look, higher unionization in higher education is increasingly the norm,” said Keilson, who was previously involved in Columbia University’s graduate student union. Though the campaign publicly launched Monday, organizers said they feel confident in its success because of the support the drive has already amassed. “We currently have hundreds of supporters and organizers across the University in all schools and on all the campuses,” Keilson said. “We wouldn’t be going public if we didn’t feel confident that we had a majority of support moving forward into our card campaign.” In the coming weeks, workers will sign authorization cards to prompt either voluntary recognition of the union by Harvard or a formal election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, which requires a majority vote in favor of the union for certification. Keilson said she does not expect Harvard to voluntarily recognize the union, citing previous pushback against Harvard’s graduate student union before the NLRB certified their election in 2018. Still, she said she’s “confident” that the University will eventually “come to the bargaining table.”

The campaign has support from several other faculty members and local advocates. “There are lots of tenure-track and tenured faculty at this university who are strongly supportive of the push by non-tenure-track faculty to seek union recognition,” History professor Kirsten A. Weld said. City Councilor Kenzie Bok ’11 offered her support in a tweet Monday. “So proud to support @HAWorkers in their quest for a union!” she wrote. “I used to do this work and I know these academic NTT workers are being constantly squeezed even as they make up an increasing % of instructors at our universities.” According to the American Association of University Professors, 73 percent of all faculty employed by higher education institutions are non-tenure-track. Over the past few decades, Weld said, non-tenure-track faculty have been taking on a greater number of teaching hours all across the country. “More and more of the labor hours performed by instructors in U.S. universities are performed by people who are in increasingly precarious employment conditions,” Weld said. “That has a corrosive effect on the kind of work that they’re able to do as educators. It means they don’t have access to academic freedom.” The HAW-UAW’s first rally will take place on Feb. 14 at the University’s Cambridge and Longwood campuses. “We’re ready,” Dichter said. “Yeah, it’s time.”

cam.kettles@thecrimson.com julia.maciejack@thecrimson.com

BY CAM E. KETTLES AND JULIA A. MACIEJAK CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

Harvard Undergraduate Workers Union publicly launched late last month in an effort to unionize undergraduate student employees on campus. The University’s graduate student union represents graduate student employees and undergraduates who work as teaching fellows, teaching assistants, and course assistants, but other undergraduate employees are currently without union representation. In late January, the group began postering outside classrooms to advertise weekly Sunday meetings from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Sever Hall. On Feb. 2, HUWU launched its official Twitter account. “No matter what you do outside of work, if you work, you deserve protections, and that includes undergrads,” said Benjamin B. Roberts ’23, an HUWU organizer. The movement hopes to gain official union recognition in order to bargain with Harvard for a contract that would guarantee higher wages, more consistent hours, and increased communication from employers. Undergraduate workers are limited to working for up to 20 hours during school terms, but they can log up to 40 hours a week during breaks. The base pay for undergraduate student workers is $15 per hour, which is the mini-

mum wage in Massachusetts. The idea for the initiative originated in the Student Labor Action Movement, according to HUWU organizers Syd D. Sanders ’24 and Olivia G. Pasquerella ’26, but HUWU became an independent movement as organizers

“

No matter what you do outside of work, if you work, you deserve protections, and that includes undergrads. Benjamin B. Roberts ‘23 HUWU Organizer

began preparing in fall 2022. HUWU’s start also coincides with the launch of Harvard Academic Workers-United Automobile Workers, which started a card drive to form a non-tenuretrack faculty union Monday. Workers who want to form a union can sign authorization cards to prompt either a union election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board or voluntary union recognition by Harvard. Unlike the non-tenure-track faculty union drive, HUWU has not begun their card campaign for official union recognition. Instead, Sanders said, the group is currently focused on publicizing the unionization effort before starting an official card drive in order to better reach undergraduates who are dispersed and often work in isolated jobs. “The only way that you can build a union is if you have the support and the consent of the

workers that are in those workplaces,” Pasquerella said. “It’s just very important that we get the word out as much as possible.” The group is currently reaching out to students to assess their priorities, according to Roberts. “We’ve been working on talking to different students and figuring out what they need, what’s hard in the workplace, basically what kind of protections we would be fighting for,” Roberts said. University spokesperson Jason A. Newton declined to comment on the formation of HUWU. HUWU leaders have also been meeting with Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers and HAW-UAW. “They have a lot of expertise that they can give,” Pasquerella said. “That’s been one of the most helpful parts of trying to get this started is asking people who have done it already.” In addition, HUWU organizers met with undergraduate organizers at Grinnell College and Kenyon College. Grinnell was the first college in the U.S. to fully unionize its undergraduate workers in April 2022. Kenyon College undergraduates are currently attempting to unionize. Keir M. Hichens, a graduate of Grinnell College and former president of the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers, said there is currently a “new wave” of undergraduate union activity. HUWU plans to begin their card drive soon, according to Sanders. “Something is in the air,” he said. cam.kettles@thecrimson.com julia.maciejack@thecrimson.com

PATH TO BECOMING A UNION START, Workers seeking to form a union sign authorization cards or a petition to indicate interest in a union.

PATH B, Majority of workers sign authorization cards and request voluntary recognition.

NO UNION,Less than 30 percent of workers sign authorization cards.

PATH A, At least 30 percent of workers sign authorization cards.

NO UNION, Less than a majority vote to form a union. No union.

PATH A PETITION, Workers file petition with local National Labor Relations Board Regional Office for a union election, with votes from at least 30 percent of workers. PATH A SUCCESS, Fifty percent plus one vote elect to form a union. Union is formed.

PATH B DENIAL, Employer denies request for union recognition.

PATH B SUCCESS, Employer recognizes union. Union is formed. STRIKE, Workers can strike for recognition if employer denies request for union recognition.

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

NEWS

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

HARVARD MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Value of Fossil Fuel Investments Increased INCREASING PRICES of energy caused the value pf Harvard’s fossile fuel holdings to rise during fiscal year 2022. BY ROHAN RAJEEV AND KRISHI KISHORE CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

he value of fossil fuel investments in Harvard’s endowment ticked up during fiscal year 2022 as energy prices soared, according to a Harvard Management Company report released Thursday. Harvard, which announced in fall 2021 that it would allow its remaining positions in the fossil fuel sector to expire, has an array of investments in external private equity funds with holdings in the industry. The school has pledged to discontinue such investments once its legal obligations are fulfilled. In the Thursday report, HMC—which manages Harvard’s endowment—attributed its investment gains in fossil fuel companies to global market conditions. “The net year-over-year increase in fossil fuel exposure was due entirely to the appreciation of HMC’s existing assets,” the report states. “The energy sector was the highest performing sector in the S&P 500 during the fiscal year driven by higher commodity prices. This led to a significant markup of private assets in the sector.” Fossil fuel investments now account for more than 2 percent

of Harvard’s $50.9 billion endowment, up slightly from less than 2 percent at the end of fiscal year 2021. Harvard’s overall endowment value decreased by $2.3 billion in fiscal year 2022, marking the first year of negative returns since 2016. Though the value of its fossil fuel holdings increased during the past fiscal year, HMC is on track to expand its investments in climate transition solutions in the coming years, according to the report. At the end of fiscal year 2022, HMC’s investments in climate solutions amounted to less than 1 percent of the endowment’s value—a figure the company expects to rise in the coming years. “Should the current investment trends continue as expected, the endowment’s exposure to climate transition solutions will exceed those in fossil fuel related investments in the next few years,” the report states. “Having these curves cross will cause the portfolio’s net exposure to climate transition solutions to become positive and remain so into the future. This result will be highly dependent on the ongoing valuation of commodities, as demonstrated by fiscal year 2022 results.” The report is part of the Harvard Management Company’s work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with its investment portfolio to net-zero by 2050, a goal the Harvard Corporation—the University’s highest governing body—set for the endowment in 2020. As part of its commitment, HMC releases

The Harvard Management Company manages Harvard’s endowment. KRYSTAL K. PHU—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Peabody Museum Returns House Post to Gitxaala Nation

a report each February detailing its progress towards the net-zero goal. Unlike other organizations that have made net-zero commitments, much of Harvard’s endowment is invested in private equity and hedge funds, an investment approach that makes it challenging to obtain an accurate measurement of greenhouse gas emissions in its portfolio, according to HMC. “HMC has partnered with third-party data providers to develop a framework for calculating portfolio carbon metrics and estimating emissions,” the report states. “Additionally, HMC is engaging with its external managers to increase the reporting of direct emissions for portfolio assets and other climate-related information.” HMC expects to report a “baseline emissions measurement for the endowment” as soon as next year, according to the report. The initial estimate will include Scope 1 and 2 emissions of companies in HMC’s investment portfolio, defined as an organization’s direct greenhouse gas emissions and emissions coming from energy purchases. Notably, the estimate will not include Scope 3 emissions, which encompass all other indirect emissions in a company’s chain of production. Last July, HMC Chief Compliance Officer Kathryn I. Murtagh wrote a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission in support of a proposed requirement that public companies disclose Scope 1 and 2 emissions, but advocated against mandating

Scope 3 emissions disclosures— citing difficulties corporations face in obtaining the requisite data. The report also confirmed that HMC achieved carbon neutrality for its facilities and operations in fiscal year 2022 for the first time, a milestone the company announced it expected to achieve in its climate report last year. HMC’s strategy to lower the endowment’s greenhouse gas emissions also includes engaging with companies via shareholder proxy voting. The report stated that at least 215 shareholder proposals addressing climate change were submitted, a sharp increase from the 84 in proxy voting season 2021. Of these 215 proposals, at least 103 were approved by April 2022. Looking towards the future, the report states that HMC does not expect “linear” progress towards its net-zero goal, citing the interplay between the short term and long term results of investments to play into their strategy going forward. “As a long-term investor, HMC will weigh investments’ shortterm emissions against their potential to reduce emissions over the medium to long term,” the report states. “HMC is committed to meeting its net zero pledge and will continually seek opportunities to enhance knowledge of portfolio transition planning, carbon accounting standards for financed emissions, and best practices in disclosure.” rohan.rajeev@thecrimson.com krishi.kishore@thecrimson.com

Harvard Appoints Committee for Slavery Memorial Project

Wadsworth House, located in Harvard Yard, is named after Benjamin Wadsworth, a former University president who enslaved two people. JULIAN J. GIORDANO—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER BY JASMINE PALMA

Harvard’s Peabody Museum will return a Gitnagun’aks house post to the Gitxaała Nation in British Columbia.

AND TESS C. WAYLAND

TRUONG L. NGUYEN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

BY JASMINE PALMA CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology signed an agreement last month to return a house post to the Gitxaała Nation, a First Nations government located at Kitkatla, British Columbia, per a Jan. 25 press release from the tribal group. The return of the house post is part of the Peabody Museum’s broader initiative to repatriate Indigenous objects of cultural and historical significance. Last month, the museum announced it transferred ownership of an ancestral Alutiiq kayak to the Alutiiq Museum, a repository of cultural artifacts. The January agreement comes nearly two years after Harvard was accused of violating the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The Peabody Museum first came into possession of the house post in 1917 after it was sold “under duress” from Christian missionaries to the Boston Fishing Company in 1897, according to an email from Gitxaała Nation Program Manager Dustin Johnson. Since it was acquired by the museum, the post was on display on the first floor until it was moved to storage in 2002, according to Peabody Director Jane Pickering. The Gitxaała Nation has communicated with the Peabody Mu-

seum since spring 2021, and the house post repatriation request was formally submitted to the museum in fall 2022, Johnson wrote. The house post is set to reach Prince Rupert—a cultural hub of various Indigenous populations—in March, where it will be temporarily held in the Museum of Northern British Columbia. As part of a string of events to commemorate the repatriation, the Gitxaała Nation intends to host a private viewing of the post shortly after its arrival before a public celebration of the occasion.

“

The return of this house post is a symbolic act of reclamation and a testament to Gitxaała Nation’s resilience to survive colonialist genocide. Dustin Johnson Gitaxaała Nation Program Manager

Celebrations will culminate in erecting the house post in adherence to Gitxaała traditional protocols within the Lax Klan Cultural Center following its construction—estimated to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025,

according to Johnson. The tribal group will also send a delegation to an event at the Peabody Museum later this spring. The post stands at a height of 12 feet and features ornate grizzly bear carvings characteristic of the Gitnagun’aks house group of the Gisbutwada, otherwise known as Gitxaała’s Killerwhale Clan. The totem pole from which the house post originated was among many of the Gitxaała Nation’s cultural artifacts that were cut down and burned amid colonial imposition. “This surviving portion of the totem pole was saved by Gitxaała ancestors and stored inside the longhouse of the Gitnagun’aks,” Johnson wrote. “This was during the period of the Potlatch Ban in Canada, when many aspects of First Nations’ culture and governance had been made illegal under colonial law and when First Nations people were struggling to survive amidst genocide,” he .. The Gitxaała Nation is actively working towards debuting a virtual museum through which visitors can access online exhibits to learn about the tribe’s cultural belongings, according to Johnson. “The return of this house post is a symbolic act of reclamation and a testament to Gitxaała Nation’s resilience to survive colonialist genocide,” Johnson wrote. jasmine.palma@thecrimson.com

Thirteen Harvard affiliates will spearhead the University’s Legacy of Slavery memorial project, which is tasked with memorializing the enslaved people who played a formative role in shaping Harvard, the school announced Wednesday. The committee is a product of the recommendations outlined in a landmark report released last April that revealed Harvard’s long-standing financial, intellectual, and social links to slavery, both past and present. In addition to six other recommendations, the report advised that the University memorialize enslaved individuals through research and curricula. “We must pursue not only truth, vital though that is, but also reconciliation,” the report reads. “Doing so requires a range of actions—visible and continuing—that address the harms of slavery and its legacies, many of which still reverberate today, affecting descendants of slavery in the community and indeed the nation.” Led by co-chairs Tracy K. Smith ’94, professor of English and African and African American Studies, and Dan Byers, director of the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, the committee will propose both a memorial location and design to University leadership. “To honor the enslaved is to

bear witness to tremendous grief and emotional freight and also to transmit immense awe for a people’s resilience and continuance even in the face of unthinkable odds,” Smith said in a statement to the Harvard Gazette. Brenda D. Tindal, the newly-appointed chief campus curator of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, will also serve on the committee. Though the University did not set a timeline for when the committee will provide its final recommendations, the group plans to consult Harvard affiliates, descendants, and Cambridge and Boston residents through the process. “We will seek community input to frame an expansive charge and selection process grounded in pedagogy and a belief in the ability of artists and community members to create a memorial space that exceeds the language and expectations we devise,” Byers said in a statement to the Harvard Gazette. Harvard Legacy of Slavery Memorial Project Committee Dan I. Byers Co-Chair Director of the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts Tracy K. Smith ’94 Co-Chair Professor of English and African and African American Studies Horace D. Ballard Harvard Art Museums Associate

Curator of American Art Vincent Brown Professor of American History Professor of African and African American Studies Tania Bruguera Senior Lecturer in Media and Performance Guy-Uriel E. Charles Professor of Law Director of the Charles Hamilton Institute for Race and Justice Jeannie Suk Gersen Professor of Law Professor, Chair of Theater, Dance, and Media concentration Stephen F. Gray Associate Professor of Urban Design Kelli Mosteller Executive Director of the Harvard University Native American Program Jerome Offord Jr. Associate University Librarian for Antiracism Karthik Pandian Assistant Professor of Art, Film, and Visual Studies Brenda D. Tindal Chief Campus Curator Terry Tempest Williams Writer-in-Residence at Harvard Divinity School jasmine.palma@thecrimson.com tess.wayland@thecrimson.com

NEWS

THE HARVARD CRIMSON FEBRUARY 10, 2023

INSTITUTE OF POLITICS

Ken Roth Discusses Fellowship Scuffle

Kenneth Roth speaks at a Wednesdat IOP Forum on the evolution of the global human rights movement. JULIAN J. GIORDANO—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

KEN ROTH SPOKE on the Kennedy School’s decision to veto, then subsequently offer, his fellowship. BY THOMAS J. METE CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

ormer Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth discussed the Harvard Kennedy School’s decision to veto, then subsequently offer, his fellowship at an Institute of Politics JFK Jr. Forum on Wednesday. The forum came roughly a month after the Nation reported allegations that HKS Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf vetoed Roth’s fellowship to the Carr Center for Human Rights due to his public criticism of Israel. On Jan. 19, following controversy and calls for resignation, Elmendorf reversed course and offered Roth the fellowship. While Roth said he was grateful to the IOP for hosting the forum, he spent much of the forum discussing the fellowship reversal, referring to it as the “gorilla in the room.” “I have to recognize, though, that that happened only because I was in a privileged position and was able to create a media fury backed by many of you,” Roth said. “The issue of critics of Israel being penalized is a real issue at Harvard and around the world.” Roth also called for “some level of transparency” from University President Lawrence S. Bacow

and Elmendorf regarding an explanation for the initial veto. “Who was it? Was it people who were concerned about donors? Was it somebody else? We don’t know,” Roth said. “I’d like to know what happened and I think it would be beneficial for all of us if we knew.” Roth emphasized the importance of “affirming a commitment to academic freedom” for those on either side of the issue. “I recognize that some students, particularly who have pro-Israel views, also feel peer pressure, particularly, not to speak out,” Roth said. “That’s a problem as well.” HKS spokesperson James F. Smith did not comment on Roth’s remarks during the event. Elmendorf regularly attends JFK Jr. Forums and delivered opening remarks at Monday’s forum, but he was noticeably absent from Roth’s on Wednesday. Smith did not provide a reason for Elmendorf’s absence. “The dean has conveyed his views about this issue to the Kennedy School community, and that message is posted online,” Smith wrote in a statement. In an email to HKS affiliates last month, Elmendorf apologized for vetoing Roth’s fellowship, adding that he will request that a faculty committee “develop a faculty-driven process for evaluating Fellow appointments.” “I now believe that I made an error in my decision not to appoint him as a Fellow at our Carr Center for Human Rights,” El-

mendorf wrote on Thursday. “I am sorry that the decision inadvertently cast doubt on the mission of the School and our commitment to open debate in ways I had not intended and do not believe to be true.” In a statement to The Crimson, Roth wrote that he met with Elmendorf on Monday to call for transparency regarding the veto and “an affirmation of academic freedom,” specifically around discussing Israel and Palestine. “He said he would consider my requests,” Roth wrote of Elmendorf. During the event, Roth also spoke about human rights and his work leading Human Rights Watch. Roth pointed to a Human Rights Watch report that criticized Israel, and he called Israel’s presence in Palestine “actually overwhelming” and “blatant apartheid.” Roth said he believes the Israeli government “couldn’t find anything wrong” with the evidence or legal analysis in the report. “They resorted to the usual name calling: ‘You’re biased. You’re anti-semitic,’” he said. Roth said he believes there is currently “plenty of pro-Israel tilting” and called for a balance in perspectives in future speakers. “What’s wrong with allowing a pro-Palestinian perspective today, and there can be a pro-Israeli perspective tomorrow?” Roth said. “We have to change this.” thomas.mete@thecrimson.com

DONOVAN FROM PAGE 1

Harvard Affiliates Call for Elmendorf to Resign hired as a full faculty member, said she believes Donavan’s work combating misinformation is critical to protecting democracy. Balachandran, an HKS graduate who took a course taught by Donovan, said the scholar’s departure from the school will be a “huge loss.” “ Nobody else is doing this work at the Kennedy School,” she said. HKS spokesperson James F. Smith wrote in a statement Wednesday that the Technology and Social Change project will remain active and has the funding to continue research over the next 16 months. “This nearly two-year transition offers an unusually lengthy period to conclude the work,” Smith wrote. “If the TaSC project finds a home at another institution, HKS will assist in any such transition to help the work continue.” The Kennedy School has also pledged to continue initiatives related to the study of misinformation and disinformation at the Shorenstein Center, including work on the Facebook archive project and the Misinformation Review, an online academic journal. Kennedy School officials have pointed to the school’s faculty handbook’s guidance on prin-

cipal investigators — which requires research projects to be led by a full-time faculty member — to justify the decision to end the Technology and Social Change project. “The principal investigator must be centrally engaged in a project in ways that are reflected in the proposal budget as well as proposed activities,” the handbook states. “Only individuals with full-time Harvard faculty appointments or others explicitly designated by the Dean may serve as principal investigators.” Donovan, who is not a tenure-track faculty member, currently serves as the Shorenstein Center’s research director and has taught as an adjunct lecturer in public policy at HKS. “While there can be limited exceptions, those can’t continue indefinitely without a faculty member as the principal project leader and academic head,” Shorenstein Center Director Nancy R. Gibbs wrote in an email to the center’s faculty and staff last Thursday. “The decision to wind the TaSC project down is solely driven by that policy, which has been followed across the school for many years.” Smith, the HKS spokesperson, wrote in a statement that “many projects are undertaken for a time and then sunsetted for

various reasons — funding; relevance; leadership.” “This is why we usually hire research project staff on time-limited appointments,” Smith wrote. In an email to the Shorenstein Center’s advisory council on Friday, Gibbs wrote that Donovan was informed in summer 2022 that the project would need to shut down because it was not in compliance with the policy. Donovan declined to comment on her status at HKS and the termination of her project. Craig A. Newmark, the founder of Craigslist and a member of the Shorenstein Center Advisory Board, also called on HKS to hire Donovan as a faculty member. Newmark has donated $5 million to the Shorenstein Center to support the work of Donovan’s Technology and Social Change project. “I know that Harvard has controls regarding a promotion, but the deal is that in major obvious cases like that, there is always room to do the right thing,” Newmark said. “I don’t understand why that doesn’t happen.” “Joan’s work is vital for national security because there are people who wish us harm — and she is helping stop them,” Newmark added. miles.herszenhorn@thecrimson.com

Students Donate to Turkey, Syria BY JOYCE E. KIM, AND MADELEINE A. HUNG CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

Following the Feb. 6 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, members of the Harvard College Turkish Student Association and Harvard Society of Arab Students organized fundraisers to raise money for victims, collectively amassing more than $30,000 in donations. As of Thursday, more than 20,000 people in Turkey and Syria have died, tens of thousands are injured, and hundreds of thousands are homeless due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake — one of the deadliest in the past two decades. Freezing temperatures, power outages, and blocked roads have stalled aid and rescue efforts, spurring fundraisers from campus organizations. Former TSA Co-President Ratip “Emin” Berker ’22-’23 described fundraising efforts — which were intended to “remove the ambiguity” around where or how to donate — as “overwhelmingly good.” Berker said members of the TSA publicized the fundraiser on social media and tabled outside the Science Center, expecting to raise at most $2,000. Instead, the group raised more than $29,000 in less than 24 hours from more than 1,100 donors. “We wanted to make it easier for people to contribute and not have to think about what organization to go to because chances are, your average Harvard stu-

dent is not very well-informed about which NGOs operate in Turkey, which one of them are more reliable, which one of them are helpful,” Berker said. “Raising money is something, but it’s not like these people will need it just for this weekend,” Berker added. “It’s also important to raise awareness on a longer-term scale, so that help continues going there.” SAS President Sam M. Saba ’23 said the organization decided to organize a fundraiser due to the “devastation” the earthquake caused. Assma Alrefai ’25, SAS social co-chair, said she believes SAS is the only campus organization fundraising to help Syria and other affected neighboring countries. Alrefair said she appreciated other student groups helping their cause by “posting on their Instagram page and pubbing through their mailing lists.” “That’s what we’re trying to count on — just the support from students,” she said. SAS has raised $5,000 of the group’s $15,000 goal. Organizers said a Harvard alum plans to match donations one-to-one. Some members of TSA and SAS said they initially did not realize the extent of the destruction caused by the earthquake. Berker, who was in Turkey until the night of Feb. 5, said that the earthquakes occurred an hour after his flight landed in Boston. He said that he heard the news from a blockmate and “didn’t know how to react.”

“It took me a while to grasp the magnitude of it because earthquakes do happen, all in smaller magnitudes,” Berker said. “Initially, I thought, ‘Oh, I hope everyone’s safe.’ But I think as more and more info came in, I realized, ‘Okay, it’s not just something small. It’s quite big.’” TSA co-president Naz Yanik ’25 said she found out about the earthquake on Twitter and initially “underestimated its effect.” “I went to sleep around 11 p.m. — I didn’t really know,” Yanik said. “Then I woke up today, I realized its magnitude and its effects very much since many of my friends lost their families and parents.” Yanik said many people on campus — including some of her friends — did not know about the earthquake. While Saba recognized that students might feel “skeptical” about sending money to organizations outside of the United States, Saba said SAS is working with an organization established by a Harvard graduate student, allowing SAS to keep in direct contact with the organization. “The United States dollar goes much further in the region than it does here,” Saba said. “So even a couple of U.S. dollars can feed families for days.” “We really want everyone — even as small of a donation as you can make — to donate because it really can make a difference,” Saba added. joyce.kim@thecrimson.com madeleine.hung@thecrimson.com

DEAN FROM PAGE 1

Harvard President, Faculty Start the Search for New FAS Dean on the major opportunities and challenges facing the FAS in the coming years, on the professional and personal qualities most important to seek in the next dean, and on any individuals who you believe warrant serious consideration for the deanship,” she wrote. Selecting her successor at FAS will likely be the most consequential of four appointments Gay is poised to make as she begins her term as president. She will also be tasked with finding a new dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences — for whom a search kicked off last week — and deans of Harvard’s Divinity School and School of Public Health. The next FAS dean will inherit a slate of initiatives Gay launched during her tenure, including hiring faculty in climate studies and working with Brenda D. Tindal, the newly-appointed FAS campus curator, to assess and update the school’s spaces and signage. Gay’s successor will also oversee the conclusion of a three-year FAS strategic planning process to assess and provide recommendations for the school’s long-term sustainability and success.

FAS Dean Search Faculty Advisory Committee Vincent Brown Professor of American History, Professor of African and African American Studies Glenda R. Carpio Professor of English and African and African American Studies, Harvard College Professor, Chair of the Department of English Yiling Chen Professor of Computer Science Melissa L. Dell ’05 Professor of Economics Catherine Dulac University Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Investigator Peter R. Girguis Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Robert D. Howe Professor of Engineering Ju Yon Kim Professor of English, Harvard College Professor, Chair of Theater,

Dance, and Media concentration Lakshminarayanan “Maha” Mahadevan Professor of Applied Mathematics, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Professor of Physics,Faculty Dean of Mather House John F. Manning ’82 Dean of Harvard Law School, Professor of Law Tsedal Neeley Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Research Eric M. Nelson ’99 Professor of Government Ann Pearson Professor of Environmental Sciences, Chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Karen L. Thornber Professor in Literature, Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations rahem.hamid@thecrimson.com elias.schisgall@thecrimson.com

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

EDITORIAL

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

STAFF EDITORIAL

Sayed Faisal Should Have Received Help SAYED FAISAL’S DEATH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED for lack of an empathetic emergency response infrastructure; nor should justice for his killing be delayed by a lack of police accountability mechanisms. Ultimately, when we get to the reactive, we have already failed at the level of the proactive.

hat four police officers and ended up in the death of an individual is heartbreaking, to say the least. Even as the details surrounding Sayed Faisal’s fatal encounter with Cambridge Police Department officers on Jan. 4 are yet to be uncovered, one thing remains clear: The system failed Faisal. Sayed Faisal, an only child of Bangladeshi immigrants, was a computer engineering student at the University of Massachusetts Boston who hoped to pursue a career creating video games. Faisal was a beloved member of his community and will be dearly missed. We cannot imagine the loss and pain his family and friends must feel at this time. We offer our deepest condolences to his loved ones as they grieve. This was the first fatal shooting by Cambridge police in over 20 years, but that figure does not offer comfort, nor does it warrant a pat on the back. Rather, it forces us to contend with some uncomfortable

truths regarding failures of proactivity and accountability in the law enforcement system. The death of Sayed Faisal serves as a reminder of a hardly revelatory fact: that police officers are not equipped to handle mental health emergencies. According to a report from the Treatment Advocacy Center, at least one in four fatal police encounters leads to the death of individuals with severe mental illness, making them 16 times more likely to die from a police encounter compared to other civilians when approached by the police. It is deeply concerning that encounters between police officers and individuals experiencing mental health crises recurrently end up in the death of a civilian. It bears repeating: Sayed Faisal should have received help, not a bullet. This incident underscores the need for urgent and comprehensive reform in how law enforcement handles mental health crises. The City of Cambridge ought to expedite its rollout of resources for non-violent 911 calls. As we’ve opined in the past, funding for programs such as the Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team and the Cambridge Department of Community Safety, which are each viable alternatives for emergency response, should be a priority for the Cambridge City Council. By partnering with Harvard researchers and other experts in the field, the City of Cambridge can adopt best practices to initiate new systems, encourage their use, and generously scale funding as nec-

essary. Given that HEART’s call volume has reportedly almost tripled since Faisal’s shooting, the cost of delaying the implementation and support of such alternative emergency response programs may well be denominated in lives. Beyond restructuring the law enforcement system to take a more proactive approach to crisis management, securing accountability for police actions is of the utmost importance. Transparency in policing is of even greater concern given that this editorial comes in the wake of not only Faisal’s shooting, but also Tyre Nichols’s tragic death at the hands of Memphis police officers. The fact that there is limited public information on the specific circumstances surrounding Faisal’s death multiple weeks into the investigation is appalling — something only aided by a lack of body camera footage from the incident. That a city as progressive as Cambridge lacks a basic mechanism of accountability as body cameras is difficult to comprehend. We call on the City of Cambridge to implement body cameras immediately for Cambridge Police Department officers — addressing in particular City Councilor Quinton Y. Zondervan, who was the only member in a recent Council session to oppose this measure. Our call comes not because we believe that body cameras will serve as the end-all, be-all solution to police violence — if anything, the current research has shown mixed reviews on the impact of body

cameras on police violence — but out of an understanding that in some cases of police brutality, body camera footage may sometimes be the only source of justice for victims’ families. Such footage allows the public to see what otherwise could have been concealed, and is thus potentially critical to holding officers accountable. The implementation of body cameras, however, should not be a carte blanche for the invasion of privacy through technological means. Common sense privacy restrictions, such as not allowing mass facial recognition and surveillance, should be put in place to ensure the protection of individuals. Sayed Faisal’s death should not have occurred for lack of an empathetic emergency response infrastructure; nor should justice for his killing be delayed by a lack of police accountability mechanisms. Ultimately, when we get to the reactive, we have already failed at the level of the proactive. We must work to ensure that individuals do not continue to pay for mental health crises with their lives.

–This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.

COLUMN

OP-ED

TOWARD A HIGHER HIGHER EDUCATION

South Asians Are Responsible for Police Abolition Too

The Real Free Speech Threat On College Campuses CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, the most dangerous threats to free speech come from the right, not the left. BY JULIEN BERMAN

know, I know, another article about free speech on campus. But frankly, nearly every piece misses the mark. I think many agree that free speech is under threat at universities, but for the wrong reasons. For the past decade, this ceaseless debate about free speech has primarily centered only on one question: Does campus discourse reflect an ideologically diverse, cordially cohabitating smorgasbord of perspectives? This question, while important, only plays into the hands of conservative coalitions purportedly standing up for free speech. They protest left-wing “cancel culture” for silencing conservative voices. It’s time for the left to expose this hypocrisy for what it is: a smokescreen that obscures a far more pernicious threat to free speech — one that comes from the right, not the left. And what is this threat? A nationwide culture war that systematically censors educators who dare to speak on subjects that conservative lawmakers deem off-limits. And unlike the threats to free speech from the left, these conservative weapons of war are actual laws that can result in loss of employment, prosecution, and even ultimately criminal penalties. We need look no further than The Crimson to observe the ways in which conservatives couch their criticism of Harvard University in free speech rhetoric. Nearly two years ago, a columnist bemoaned that just three percent of the faculty is conservative, that Harvard is too ideologically homogeneous, and that student protests exclude valuable perspectives and run counter to Harvard’s mission to support the free exchange of ideas. More recently, The Crimson reported on a petition signed by nearly 250 Harvard affiliates urging the University’s Presidential Search Committee to replace former University President Lawrence S. Bacow with a candidate who protects “diversity of opinion” and makes University culture more tolerant of controversial conservative voices. This is the wrong free speech conversation. Instead, we should focus on the slew of new laws designed to chill speech by keeping certain discussions out of the classroom — censorship par excellence. For example, in Florida, the Stop W.O.K.E. Act — W.O.K.E. standing for “Wrongs to our Kids and Employees” — signed into law last April prohibits professors from teaching anything that could make a student feel “psychological distress” on account of their race. In other words, professors who make students or colleagues uncomfortable in the classroom when discussing historical acts of racism may face the prospect of litigation. Thankfully, a United States District Judge temporarily blocked the statute from taking effect on college campuses. But other instances of censorship are slipping through the cracks, at least so far. For example, the Idaho legislature banned public funds from being used to help students receive abortions. Professors at the University of Idaho, a state-funded institution, must therefore tread lightly. The university administration even sent out a memo urging faculty to refrain from advocating for the use of birth control and supporting abortion in any circumstance. Now, University of Idaho educators can no longer advocate for abortion rights in a class-

room setting, nor even provide advice to those seeking abortion services without fear of criminal prosecution. These two examples are not isolated instances. Eighteen states have enacted some kind of rule preventing professors from discussing systemic racism and sexism. For a party that claims to support free and open discussion, the right has embraced a version of censorship far more extreme than the left’s hotly-debated, so-called “cancel culture.” To be fair, conservative underrepresentation on college campuses might be a real problem. But it’s hard to even compare that concern with these dystopian laws. On the one hand, professors are fired and universities are sued for vast sums of money, whereas on the other, oftentimes there are only a few student protests and a brief clamor. Today, conservative lawmakers seek to bend the entirety of higher education to support their political agenda. Liberal activists call out professors for discrimination and write acerbic articles in the school newspaper.

“

Today, conservative lawmakers seek to bend the entirety of higher education to support their political agenda. Liberal activists call out professors for discrimination and write acerbic articles in the school newspaper. The two are just not the same. The two are just not the same. Thankfully, such draconian legislation has so far left Harvard unscathed. But because students at similar Ivy League institutions are primarily in blue states, we remain insulated from the broader national problem. We fixate on the issue at close proximity — “cancel culture” on our own campus — and miss a more serious but not immediately evident free speech problem nationwide. Widespread cultural censorship is very much looming on the horizon; it just isn’t coming from the left-leaning academy indoctrinating students with wokeness. The left must start exposing conservative doublespeak and understanding the right-wing crackdown for what it really is: the most dangerous threat to free speech on college campuses since the McCarthy era. Otherwise, laws akin to the ones passed in Florida and Idaho will begin to slip away, unnoticed, amidst the smokescreen of the political debate about cancel culture. So the next time you read about the latest campus cancel culture controversy, keep in mind the professors in red states under gag orders. Let’s start talking about that free speech crisis.

–Julien Berman ’26 lives in Canaday Hall. His column, “Toward a Higher Higher Education,” appears on alternate Tuesdays.

BY AFIYA RAHMAN

n January 4, Sayed Arif Faisal was killed by Cambridge police. A student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, a Bangladeshi American, a 20-year-old only child, Faisal’s death sparked protests from the Cambridge community calling for police accountability. Faisal was very probably undergoing a mental health crisis, and instead of helping him, police fatally shot him. As a Bangladeshi immigrant myself, I cannot describe the feelings of anger and grief that I felt when hearing this news. My parents, however, clearly articulated theirs: anger at his death, grief for his parents, and lack of trust in the ability of the police to conduct a thorough investigation. In that moment, the myth of immigrant excellence — of coming to America to achieve a better life — vanished, and all that was left behind was the realization that the police will not protect us. There is an urge, I think, to provide the police with more resources, like body cameras, for the sake of better regulating the system. But bolstering law enforcement does not always keep us safe, for reasons with which we are already all too familiar, although perhaps not wellequipped to see. For South Asians, the stain of British colonialism has never left; the violence perpetuated and the struggle for independence has left behind a legacy of struggle and division. We understand very well the imprint British colonialism has left in our motherlands, and we are aware of our racialized brown bodies in the airport post 9/11, but too often, we fall short at denouncing the American policing system — another tool of colonial and racist/white supremacist/Islamophobic violence, one that does not guarantee safety and protection like it advertises.

“

We understand very well the imprint British colonialism has left in our motherlands, and we are aware of our racialized brown bodies in the airport post 9/11, but too often, we fall short at denouncing the American policing system. The United States spends more than 100 billion dollars a year on policing, yet some experts argue that there is no relationship between the number of police present in an area and crime rates. It is clear from the disproportionate impacts that police have on Black people that their presence is not always good for the communities they claim to serve. Many South Asians extend our solidarity with Black Lives Matter by protesting against police brutality and donating to antiracist organizations. However, we often dismiss having discussions of anti-Blackness in our own communities and may believe our efforts are wasted on our parents, who belong to an older generation that can be less socially conscious. To be sure, having these conversations is necessary to create sustained change. But ultimately, atrocities targeting people and bodies we identify as “our own” create powerful feelings of solidarity. This shared sense of vulnerability opens the door wide open for righteous outrage

despite these obstacles, just as it did for my parents. This may be uncomfortable for many — as it should be. Narratives of Asian American excellence are designed to placate us and ease our assimilation into the white supremacist fabric of this nation. We may be convinced by the outwardly progressive stance of Cambridge’s government, but they refuse to release the names of the officers involved in Faisal’s shooting, and have placed the man who shot him on paid administrative leave rather than taking stronger action. While we may have nominal freedom to conduct as we choose, what does that mean when the police, a tool of colonial violence, can end our lives on a whim? We should know that we would not be able to live comfortably in this country without the civil rights movement that in many ways fought against police brutality, just as Black Lives Matter does today. Particularly, those of us who come from a privileged caste — meaning that, back home, we wield disproportionate wealth and power, socially, religiously, and politically — must acknowledge the violence that has and will continue to perpetuate towards Black, brown, and low income communities in this country.

“

We should know that we would not be able to live comfortably in this country without the civil rights movement that in many ways fought against police brutality, just as Black Lives Matter does today. We can clearly articulate the problems of corruption and violence that exist in our motherlands, but why do we often fail to do so in the United States? Sayed Faisal should be alive today. If proper mental health and emergency response professionals had been available to answer his call, he would not have been viewed as a threat and had

“

We can clearly articulate the problems of corruption and violence that exist in our motherlands, but why do we often fail to do so in the United States? his humanity stripped from him. The city of Cambridge should not be able to quietly hide their officers away on what essentially amounts to paid vacation while the community grieves. We as South Asians have a responsibility to fight against this country’s police system — not just for Faisal and his family, but for every Black and brown American killed by police brutality.

–Afiya Rahman ’24, a Crimson Editorial editor, is a Social Studies and South Asian Studies concentrator in Pforzheimer House.

EDITORIAL

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

STAFF EDITORIAL

COLUMN

A Crack in the Stone of Athletics

POSTGRADUATE WAY OF LIFE

TOWARDS BETTER TEAM CULTURE IN COLLEGE SPORTS. The allegations against Harvard women’s ice hockey head coach Katey Stone are serious; now is the time for serious healing. BY THE CRIMSON EDITORIAL BOARD

t urdy as stone, Harvard women’s ice hockey head coach Katey Stone has been celebrated throughout her career as one of the most successful women’s hockey coaches. Since she took Sturdy as stone, Harvard women’s ice hockey head coach Katey Stone has been celebrated throughout her career as one of the most successful women’s hockey coaches. Since she took over Harvard’s women hockey in 1994, Stone has marshaled the Crimson through 12 Beanpot titles, 12 NCAA tournament appearances, six ECAC tournament championships, and over 500 wins. Even as a Board with few athletic muscles to flex, we’re impressed. But despite her barn burner of a career, a recent Boston Globe exposé threatens to undermine Stone’s outstanding athletic record. Speaking to the Globe, 16 of Stone’s past players made a collection of allegations, including that Stone cultivated a grim and hostile team culture “of complete fear,” made targeted racist remarks following a disappointing critical practice, and callously dismissed players struggling with mental health. Further investigation from the University is warranted to assess the veracity of the accusations against Stone and provide insight and clarity on the team’s culture, so that all those involved may begin to heal. In such an incongruous but delicate situation, figuring out how to rebuild trust is the prime task at hand for the women’s ice hockey team, necessitating continuous open dialogue between Stone and her players. In the meantime, we must take the allegations voiced in the Globe seriously. Team loyalty is a core tenet of participation in varsity sports; athletes may be hesitant to speak out, so we must listen carefully when they do. The accounts shared in the Globe vary in their perspective of Stone, but the positive recollections — 46 other former players signed a letter to the Globe in support of Stone — do not offset the negative ones. However you slice it, though, according to several former players, the Harvard athletic director told them in 2019 that women’s ice hockey was ranked the University’s worst team for athlete experience in varsity sports. This alone suggests a glaring problem with the team’s culture. Beyond this specific team, the Globe’s reporting raises important issues for college athletics

and student athlete wellbeing writ large. Athletes face tremendous public pressure to excel. Competing in a highly publicized version of Harvard’s existing stress-laden, ambitious culture, student athletes unsurprisingly not only regularly report high levels of mental health concerns, but may also hold unique mental health risk factors relating to injury and overtraining. To be clear, collegiate athletes can and should be expected to practice and compete in high-pressure environments. The pursuit of athletic excellence definitionally requires pushing one’s body to go faster, harder, and longer, to prepare for clashes against rival teams and seemingly impossible buzzer-beaters. Striving for athletic success and one’s full potential is a good thing — but there is a line. Pressure to the extent that athletes feel obligated to play through still-healing injuries or sacrifice all other life passions for their sport goes way over that line. We worry that these allegations against Stone paint her as passing from committed coaching into the indefensible realm of abusive behavior. Athletes should expect to be out of breath after practice or disappointed by close competitive loss — not to be belittled or minimized by coaches who should be supporting them. College sports should never be a catalyst for mental health crises, regardless of the inherent intensity of the practice. While trophies and accolades are material indicators of competitive success, the personal experiences of players are just as — if not more — valuable and telling of a team’s triumphs. After all, a team is a reciprocal community of people, not a tool to fill a trophy case. When players teeter towards resenting the sports that shaped their formative years, something has gone terribly wrong in their collegiate training. Schools must provide better safeguards within their sports teams to monitor team culture, coaching pedagogy, and athlete mental health We hope the allegations levied in the Globe provide the alarm needed to build crucial supportive scaffolding into the institution of college sports. We want student athletes to find fulfillment and pride in their teams, instead of the current overwhelming pressure they weather with hearts of stone.

OP-ART HOW TO STUDY IN THE WINTER. How do you turn pages with mittens on?

–Sophia Salamanca ’25, a Crimson Design Chair, is a Computer Science concentrator in Eliot House.

Submit an Op-Ed Today!

The Crimson @thecrimson

Ask What You Can Do THE KENNEDY SCHOOL’S UNIQUE PEDAGOGY emphasizes practicality and interaction. The College could take a page out of that book. BY MANUEL A. YEPES

wo weeks ago, I wandered into the Center for Government and International Studies’ Knafel building to sit in on “Capitalism and its Critics,” a new graduate Government seminar offered by Professor Katrina Forrester. Drawn in by both the topic and the professor, I ignored the fact that I had done two of the assigned readings for that week — which totaled some 200 pages — and instead relied on the little Marx and Foucault I remembered from Social Studies 10 to follow along with the conversation. The ensuing discussion was incredibly enjoyable and thought provoking. Yet by the end, I couldn’t really tell if we were still discussing capitalism — a real world economic system made up by billions of human beings who work, laugh, and cry — or an ambiguous concept whose only essential feature was some vague connection to power relations. I tend to think that I’m not the only student who feels like this. In “A Mathematician’s Apology,” the English mathematician G.H. Hardy worried that academia might be an ivory tower, disconnected from the outside world: “I have never done anything ‘useful’. No discovery of mine has made, or is likely to make, directly or indirectly, for good or ill, the least difference to the amenity of the world. […] Judged by all practical standards, the value of my mathematical life is nil; and outside mathematics is it trivial anyhow.” I don’t fully agree with this view. G.H. Hardy’s work in number theory was largely useless, that is, if you ignore the fact that number theory has allowed vendors to encrypt credit card information when selling online, leading to trillions of dollars generated through e-commerce. I’ll also still encourage you to take a philosophy class at Harvard, and not because it might help you get a better LSAT score. Yet this critique still has value and is part of the reason I lay awake at night and stress about what I’m going to write my Social Studies thesis on. Like Hardy, I worry about how useful what I do may really be. When I do so, I’m reminded of John F. Kennedy’s ’40 famous dictum, “Ask what you can do.” That’s why, during one of my weekly trips to spend my BoardPlus on a ramen bowl at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, seeing this quote adorn the walls made me think that maybe the answer to my worries lay within this school for public policy. The Kennedy School’s emphasis on praxis is clear as soon as you walk in. When entering one of the buildings, I looked down to see a gold disc set into the floor, with a quote from the address by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s, class of 1904, at the Harvard Tercentenary Celebration: “Harvard should train its citizens in that high Athenian sense which compels them to live life unceasingly aware that its civic significance is its most abiding.” HKS aims to offer a reprieve from the worry that one has never done anything useful, and, in this way, its very mission sets it apart from the College. The school’s descriptions of its four degree programs further exemplifies its practical orientation. According to the website, the Master in Public Policy is for those who have an “urge to extract answers from the clutter of real-world public problems.” The Master in Public Administration is for those with some previous professional experience who now need “the specialized skills, informed perspectives, and nuanced understanding to be an even more effective leader in solving public problems.” The Mid-Career Master in Public Administration is for those with already advanced careers who “know [they] can make a greater impact.” Finally, the Master in Public Administration and International Development provides economics-centered training to those who want to “acquire the analytical tools and global perspectives to design and implement effective solutions.” My conversations with students at the Kennedy School showed me that students themselves notice this palpable culture of public service. Mauro Morabito, a recent MC/MPA graduate, told me that at HKS, “There is definitely a very keen interest in the public or in ways that the public good can improve.” To me, it looks like HKS offers a unique space for students to learn while always thinking about the potential impact of their education on the public sphere. What does a school that is almost entirely focused on practicalities look like? This may be from a lack of experience, but I tend to think that taking a class on linear algebra for one semester gives you much more information than a semester course on negotiation might. I’m not alone in feeling this way. In the past, HKS has been critiqued for a lack of academic rigor and a failure to provide anything except the Harvard name — in other words, for serving as “a country club shrouded in academia.” Indeed, Trevor J. Levin ’19, a former Crimson editor and current MPP candidate at HKS, told me that “grades below a B minus are quite rare.” “Most classes are curved to give everyone at least a B minus unless you don’t do a major assignment or something,” he added. Because of this lack of emphasis on GPA, Levin continued, “most of the jobs that you wind up getting, you’re gonna get through either networking” or writing one really good policy report.

But those who criticize HKS for lacking academic rigor miss the point. HKS classes aren’t trying to be academic, in a conventional sense of the word. Instead, they’re focused on teaching skills. “This is quite special, and probably what HKS is most known for,” Morabito told me. “The socalled soft skills — so, advocacy and negotiation, public speaking, leadership, persuasion.” Courses based on these skills, Morabito added, are “experiential courses, and you have a lot of learning by doing and simulations.” Some students see these types of courses as the most valuable at HKS. Shulin Jiang, an MPA candidate, told me, “If I could, I would choose classes with more simulations, like the negotiation classes.” To me, it seems that by interacting amidst these simulations, students learn from the professional experiences they each bring to the table. Some may see the College as presenting the opposite model of education as HKS. Instead of skills based learning, we learn information. Our thousands of pages of readings push us to internalize loads of knowledge, which we are free — but not necessarily taught to — apply in our real lives. This view of the College’s educational model presents a problem, though. Not only does it risk detaching students from the real world, it leaves unanswered the question: What value is there in a Harvard education? In “Good Will Hunting,” Matt Damon’s character confronts a Harvard student and tells him that one of the few certainties in life that he’ll one day discover is the fact that the student “dropped a hundred and fifty grand on an education [he] could’ve picked up for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library.” Damon misses the point, though. He’s right that at many institutions of higher learning, the actual knowledge gained could have easily been accessed somewhere else. However, the value of these institutions is that they serve as a space in which very motivated students can gather and learn from one another. At the College, we hesitate to admit this. The idea that our courses aren’t actually the most important part of our education may leave a bitter taste in our mouths. HKS, however, does not shy away from this reality. The Kennedy School realizes that its value lies in its ability to cultivate practical skills, a mission it carries out by gathering an incredibly diverse group of people with substantive professional experience into one classroom.

“

The Kennedy School’s emphasis on praxis is clear as soon as you walk in. Each of the school’s four degree programs attract students at different stages in their career. The result of this, Morabito told me, is that “everybody can get something out of this, but specifically for the younger cohorts that might not have encountered this before in their professional lives.” To me, it seems that this diversity leads to an environment in which the young, more idealistic students with an appetite for change exchange knowledge with the older, more pragmatic students with professional experience and who may have actually changed the world. HKS recognizes that any education they can offer pales in comparison to the education students will receive simply from interacting with each other. I imagine that’s why many professors seem to emphasize the interactions, constructing classes around simulations that bring out the most from those interactions. Likewise, the professors are there because of the benefits students get from interacting with them, not because of any special ability they have in imparting information to students. As the MPA website states, faculty are meant to “share significant, real-world experience with you.” We should take note of this at the College. We have the theoretical education, but to some extent, we also have the practical education that HKS offers. We may not have structured simulations forcing us to critically engage with each other, but we do have an incredibly diverse student body and an open “play” environment in which we can interact. This has led to the creation of a college newspaper that has produced more than 40 Pulitzer Prize winners, a multimillion dollar business, and the oldest theatrical organization in the nation. The practical education that HKS offers and that some undergraduates so desperately crave when we’re learning theory in a lecture hall is there —we just have to take advantage of it. Like the poet Walt Whitham’s learn’d astronomer, when we become tired and sick of the charts and diagrams, we must look up in perfect silence at the stars.

–Manuel A. Yepes ’24, a Crimson Editorial Editor, is a Social Studies concentrator in Cabot House. His column, “The Postgraduate Way of Life,” runs on triweekly Thursdays.

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

METRO

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

City Council Disrupted

RED LINE

HarvardArea Commuters Face Red Line Issues HARVARD-AREA workers face difficulties commuting to work, due to issues with the Red Line. BY JACK R. TRAPANICK CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

orkers at Harvard and around the Square say they continue to face difficulties in their daily commutes to Cambridge due to ongoing slow zones, increased wait times, and diversions on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Red Line. In May 2022, the Federal Transit Administration opened a safety investigation into the state of the MBTA—an action taken only once before. The investigation concluded in August, with an order for the agency to address dozens of problems touching almost every aspect of its operations.

Last year, safety issues on the MBTA made headlines, including a death on the Red Line and a fire on the Orange Line as it crossed the Mystic River, which caused a passenger to jump to safety into the water below. In mid-June, though the investigation had not concluded, the FTA ordered the MBTA to address safety problems. Service has since been slashed on some lines for repairs, including a monthlong shutdown of the Orange Line and other diversions and station closures. After seven months of repairs, services throughout the MBTA— including on the Red Line—have not yet returned to normal. Slow zones—stretches of train track where cars must slow down because of structural deficiencies— have increased, resulting in an uptick in travel times between stations. Workers commuting from the Greater Boston area to the Harvard station expressed frustra-

BY JINA H. CHOE AND SAMUEL P. GOLDSTON CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

The MBTA Red Line, which stops at Harvard, services Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Braintree, and Quincy AIYANA G. WHITE—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

tion over the renewed trials of taking the T, saying delays and unpredictibility have resulted in late arrivals to work, decreased time with family, and changes to morning routines. Cassie Hernandez, a staff member at the Harvard Mail Center, said that despite the months of work, “it seems like nothing’s really getting fixed.” “No matter what time I get to the train in the morning, I always get here at the same time: around 8:10,” Hernandez said. “Even if I leave my house earlier, I feel like I can never get a good time where I’ll get there at 8 o’clock, when I’m supposed to be there,” she added. Julia A. Trogani, visitor services and shop supervisor for the Harvard Art Museums, described her commute as a balancing act. After work, she rides the Red Line for one stop from Harvard to Porter Square in order to transfer to the commuter rail, which comes once an hour.

Allston Residents Express Skepticism over Wu’s BPDA BY DYLAN H. PHAN, JACK R. TRAPANICK AND KATE DELVAL GONZALEZ CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

Even after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 announced plans to reform the Boston Planning and Development Agency on Jan. 25, Allston advocates continue to express skepticism over the proposed changes. The BPDA has been criticized for a perceived partiality to developers over neighborhood residents. Critics, including Wu, have said the BPDA’s broad urban renewal powers bypass public accountability. Shortly after its inception in 1957, the BPDA demolished two neighborhoods in a controversial campaign of urban renewal. During her mayoral campaign, Wu promised to abolish the BPDA, claiming it was “one of the drivers of almost every inequity that we see across the city.” Wu revealed plans during her January State of the City Address to transfer the BPDA’s planning powers into a new City Planning and Design Department directly under the oversight of the city government. Later that week, Wu filed a home rule petition to end the BPDA’s ability to seize properties deemed “blighted” under the mandate of urban renewal. If passed by the City Council, the petition will be submitted to the State Legislature for approval. Harry E. Mattison, an Allston neighborhood advocate, said although Wu’s plan accounts for the “structural problems” with the BPDA, a change in culture is also needed. “Will a new organization

make different decisions?” Mattison said. “Depends on the people in those positions and in the leadership.” In an effort to rebrand the agency, former mayor Marty J. Walsh renamed it from the Boston Redevelopment Agency, which many residents associated with controversial urban renewal projects, among other reforms. Still, housing advocates—including Wu—say the changes did not substantively alter the institution itself. Some residents said Wu must convince them that her new reforms will bring greater voice and influence to locals. “Just having a planning department that makes nice plans is not sufficient,” Mattison said. “It takes follow through, and consensus building, and a whole bunch of other things.” Harvard-Allston Task Force member and Allston resident Bruce E. Houghton also said he is uncertain about the reforms’ potential. “I don’t want to speculate on whether it will be successful, or what the outcome will be, because I don’t think anybody knows, including Mayor Wu,” he said. “The community is being asked to put on blinders and be myopic about what a regional development will look like,” Houghton added. Anthony P. D’Isidoro, president of the Allston Civic Association, expressed the need for alternative approaches to development. “There’s a big need for a greater planning effort—a wider holistic planning effort,” D’Isidoro said. In late January, D’Isidoro was appointed as a member of the

city’s Article 80 steering committee, which will review Boston’s zoning code and development process for large building projects. According to D’Isidoro, residents’ worries over development are rooted in a lack of control over the city’s landscape and a fear of large changes in their neighborhoods. To combat these concerns, he said he believes the city should ensure residents are involved in the planning and development process. “At least giving people an opportunity to take part and get involved, and what have you, is extremely important,” D’Isidoro said. “The more you engage the community and the more community residents feel they’re a part of the process, that helps to diminish resistance to what’s going on,” he added.

“

At least giving people an opportunity to take part and get invovled, and have you, is extremely important. Anthony P. D’Isidoro Allston Civic Association President

Despite the apprehension, Houghton said he is hopeful about future planning and development initiatives in Boston. “There’s an acknowledgement that what’s ‘working’ isn’t working and I think that’s the first step,” Houghton said. dylan.phan@thecrimson.com jack.trapanick@thecrimson.com kate.delvalgonzalez@thecrimson.com

The Boston Planning and Development Agency’s model of Boston JINA H. CHOE—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

“Sometimes I’m walking up or running up the stairs, and it’s just pulling away, and it’s just that close,” she said. “It does significantly change my day, the difference of 30 seconds.” According to Transit Matters, a Boston-based public transit advocacy group that tracks the MBTA’s performance, the average wait for a northbound train from Harvard station has increased by almost 50 percent from February of last year. In February, the Red Line’s total slow zone delay time from one end of the line to the other was 24 minutes. Hernandez, the Harvard Mail Center staff member, said that the impact on workers can be trying. “It’s tough,” said Hernandez, who takes the Red Line 12 stops from Quincy Center to Harvard. “I would like to get home earlier. I have kids.” Chase Culler, a bookseller at the Coop and lecturer at Boston University, said the Red Line has played a role in making him late

for work “maybe once or twice a week now.” “I used to plan it out pretty perfectly,” he said. “Time has not adjusted—I haven’t adjusted for the Red Line. Something has changed.” In an emailed statement, MBTA spokesperson Lisa Battiston did not provide a timeframe for the return to normal service. “To improve track conditions, MBTA crews continue to work nights and weekends on the Red Line. Rail replacement and other track maintenance work will continue this month during overnight hours while the MBTA works to schedule more weekend diversions to give crews more access to the right of way,” she wrote. “The MBTA appreciates its customers’ patience while crews work to make the improvements necessary to allow trains to travel at faster speeds,” she added. jack.trapanick@thecrimson.com

Allston Musicians Forced to Relocate BY KATE DELVAL GONZALEZ CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

As Allston-Brighton’s Sound Museum prepares to close in late February, neighborhood musicians are seeking alternative rehearsal spaces. The Sound Museum was first established in the South End by William Desmond to provide affordable spaces for area musicians, according to the business’s website. The museum has operated out of its Allston-Brighton location for 32 years, providing musicians a place where “they can rock as hard as they want to.” Biotech real estate investor IQHQ purchased the Sound Museum’s building at 155 North Beacon St. in 2021 for $50 million. After announcing plans to demolish the building to develop a new research complex, IQHQ offered to assist the museum’s relocation — though in the time since, plans have remained in limbo. On Dec. 17, 2022, tenants of the Sound Museum were notified of its closure. Now, organizations have stepped in to help area musicians find alternative rehearsal spaces, and have advocated on behalf of artists facing displacement across Boston. Artists at Humphreys Street Studios created the #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition to support local artists and protect neighborhood arts spaces. Since then, they have expanded to helping artists across the Boston area, including Allston-Brighton musicians currently facing the closure of the Sound Museum. Though initial plans for a relocation of the Sound Museum to West Roxbury fell through, IQHQ committed in January to donating a building at 290 North Beacon St. to Boston as a permanent rehearsal space for artists. In the interim, artists will be able to use a “swing space” in Dorchester, according to a press release from the office of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07. Ami Bennitt, a volunteer for the #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition and an advocate for the arts, said artists across the Boston area face anxiety and difficulty amid the closure of creative spaces. “All of the artists that we work with—whether musicians, creative small businesses, or visual

artists—everyone is devastated and really upset and really anxious, ” she said. Bennitt added that the loss of affordable art spaces has created a greater financial barrier to creation. “What you would find if you talked with other cities is that there’s also not enough affordable artists’ workspaces,” she said.

“

What you would find if you talked with other cities is that there’s also not enough affordable artists’ workspaces. Ami Bennitt #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition Volunteer

In a Wednesday public forum hosted by the coalition, advocates gathered to discuss artist displacement, while artists from across the Boston area spoke about their local situations. Jim Healey, a current tenant of the Sound Museum, said he is pleased the city is working to secure spaces for artists, calling Allston-Brighton the “epicenter” of the city’s music scene. Ethan Dussault, head engineer and co-operator of New Alliance Audio, said it was “heartening” seeing people at the forum working together on the issue. Dussault, a member of #ARTSTAYSHERE, said he is excited to be helping artists. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the coalition and assisting in any way I can to preserve and prevent arts and cultural displacement from the area.” Local officials have indicated they will continue to work to support Boston area artists. Somerville, Boston, and Cambridge announced on Tuesday their plans to join with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council on a project to protect the area’s existing art spaces and promote the creation of new ones. Despite the difficulties that artists expressed in the forum, Bennett highlighted the number of people working together to help the city’s artists. “The good news is that we have a bunch of people here tonight trying to help and who are working behind the scenes,” Bennitt said. kate.delvalgonzalez@thecrimson.com

rotesters interrupted the CamP bridge City Council’s regular meeting at City Hall Monday evening to demand accountability for the Cambridge Police Department officers involved in the police killing of Sayed Faisal last month. The demonstration lasted for approximately one hour in the Council chamber and subsequently in the hall outside the Council’s offices, while the Council itself met to discuss de-escalation, body cameras, and policing more broadly. “Mayor Siddiqui, City Manager Huang, and City Council, it has been over a month since Sayed Faisal was murdered by the Cambridge Police Department, and we still don’t have any answers,” a protester shouted during the public comment portion of the meeting. The demonstration comes two weeks after the protesters’ first display in City Hall. Since Faisal’s killing, demonstrators across Cambridge have repeatedly called on the city to release the involved officers’ names and the unredacted police report. Advocates have also demanded the termination and prosecution of the officers. Before the protest began, MIT graduate student Hannah M. Flores devoted much of her public comment at the meeting to a moment of silence for “everybody that was killed by the police.” “It’s a moment of silence because their blood is on your hands,” she said to the Council. “You guys are in actual positions to change something.” When Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui attempted to stop Flores from continuing on the subject of Faisal’s killing, Flores responded that she was exercising her “right of freedom of speech.” More than a dozen protesters filed into the chamber as Flores spoke. After a moment of silence, the protesters stood and began to chant “Release the names!” and “No justice, no peace!” from the rear of the chamber. While the demonstrators shouted, the councilors immediately left the chamber to resume the Council meeting virtually. The protesters remained for several minutes afterward, and several took turns speaking to an empty chamber at the public comment podium. Over a Zoom meeting, the Council considered 13 policy orders, one of which would initiate the process of obtaining bodyworn cameras for police. The Council voted to adopt this order, with all present members voting in favor except City Councilor Quinton Y. Zondervan, who argued that the cameras are a counterproductive use of funds. “They buy into the notion that the way we do a lot of policing in the United States, and at Cambridge, is basically okay,” he said in reference to the body cameras. “So what this ends up doing is adding to the police budget, giving them more tools to work with, but ultimately not really resolving the problem that is before us.” “The problem is the guns, not the body cameras,” Zondervan added. Other policy orders on the agenda included a request that the police commissioner explore “less-than-lethal” alternatives that the police department can deploy and that the city manager engage a third party to examine the CPD’s methods for de-escalation, as well as mental health response practices.

“

The problem is the guns, not the body cameras.

Quinton Y. Zondervan City Councilor

The demonstrators plan on continuing their protests at every future City Council meeting. Prominent protest figure Suhail P. Purkar said there would be “hundreds of protesters” at the next meeting. jina.choe@thecrimson.com samuel.goldston@thecrimson.com

ARTS 11

THE HARVARD CRIMSON FEBRUARY 10, 2023

‘THE L WORD: GENERATION Q’ SEASON 3 REVIEW: A HOT MESS

COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT

BY JULIA J. HYNEK CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

here is little media that has played as central of a role in the queer community as “The L Word.” The original series, which aired on Showtime from 2004 to 2009, followed a group of fictional sapphic women in Los Angeles as they lived lives of “Talking, laughing, loving, breathing/Fighting, f*cking, crying, drinking/Riding, winning, losing, cheating/Kissing, thinking, dreaming” (as the iconic theme song lists). “The L Word” was certainly far from perfect and some of its content has been rightfully critiqued for its harmful character portrayals. Still, the series was absolutely groundbreaking in its willingness to loudly and proudly tell BGLTQ stories in the early 2000s during a time of virtually nonexistent TV representation, and for that it holds a deeply special place in the hearts of many — particularly queer woman-identifying — viewers. It is no surprise then, that news of a “The L Word” reboot premiering in 2019 was quite well received. Titled “The L Word: Generation Q” (also known as “Gen Q”), the new series was set to take place 10 years after the end of the original show and featured the return of three favorite characters played by their original actresses (Jennifer Beals as Bette Porter, Leisha Hailey as Alice Pieszecki, and Katherine Moennig as Shane McCutcheon) along with a variety of new faces. Seasons one and two performed quite well: They resumed Bette, Alice, and Shane’s stories in ways that felt natural to the characters, introduced several interesting new plotlines, and notably diversified its cast. It is too bad that season three of the series brought on a rapid quality devolution. What remains is a shoddy construction that can barely hold itself together, let alone live up to the standards set by its predecessor. Poor show writing lies at the core of the issues plaguing season three. Underdeveloped plotlines

run amok, ranging from Sophie (played by Rosanny Zayas) and Sarah Finley’s (known as “Finley” and portrayed by Jacqueline Toboni) frustrating on-again, offagain relationship, Bette and Tina’s (Laurel Holloman) rushed reunion, their daughter Angie’s (Jordan Hull) relationship with her professor, or the tired trope of Shane’s unfaithfulness. Not to mention the odd story arc in episode five where Angie helps to remove a condom from inside her roommate, or Shane and Finley’s construction zone dancing/ grinding scenes. There are many ways to convey a sense of levity in a television show, but these two are certainly not among them. And where the show tries to capitalize on a shock factor by arresting Dani (Arienne Mandi) for involvement with her father’s white collar crimes, placing GiGi (Sepideh Moafi) in a car accident, or having Carrie (Rosie O’Donnell) suffer from a heart attack, it promptly self-sabotages by revealing that all becomes resolved (in the preview for the next episode, no less). Room for imagination, speculation, or suspense is absolutely nonexistent. In any case, the stories that do get more screen time tend to be those of generally unlikeable characters. Perhaps if Finley did not act like an irresponsible child who never learns from her own actions, then fans would actually feel invested in her and Sophie’s relationship drama. Though not quite to the same extent of insufferability, Micah (Leo Sheng) and Maribel (Jillian Mercado) are another example of a romantic pair that is difficult to care about — mainly because Maribel’s character often acts irrationally, impulsively, and without consideration of others. On the other hand, the writers took a popular romance between fan-favorites Dani and GiGi and nixed it completely in one episode with minimal explanation. Well-loved character GiGi (Sepideh Moafi) was never to be seen or heard from on screen again.

This points to the larger problem of a lack of relationship continuity in “The L Word: Gen Q.” Hookups, one night stands, cheating, and a variety of sexual escapades are a hallmark of the original “The L Word.” The difference between the OG show and “Gen Q,” however, is that the latter only includes such shortterm relationships, whereas the original series complemented its more promiscuous plotlines with lovable long term relationship endeavors that lasted for at least a couple of seasons, including Tina and Bette (TiBette), Alice and Dana, or Alice and Tasha (R.I.P. Dana). “Gen Q” thus far has seen so many cheating and fleeting hookup plotlines that any new love interests introduced feel impermanent and thus fail to demand any real investment from the viewer. Adding insult to injury, “Gen Q” does not even let its characters use their relationship-free status as opportunities to work on themselves; where the show lacks lovable couples for fans to root for and “ship,” it also feels like it does not allow its (endearingly) flawed characters to learn from their mistakes and grow as individuals, either. The only real highlight of this season was the rekindled connection between Bette and Tina and their eventual wedding in the season finale. Already having experienced a multitude of relationship highs and lows throughout the original “The L Word” and finally ending the series as what appeared to be a long-term couple, it was disappointing for TiBette fans to see the two begin the reboot as divorcees. Season three redeems this arc, with episode two featuring what is perhaps the highlight of the season, with Bette dramatically professing her love and commitment to Tina amidst standstill LA traffic. In fact, this sequence is probably the only one in season three that felt just right. Bette is one of the

only characters who experienced significant — though rushed — personal growth in “Gen Q,” making her and Tina’s reconciliation actually seem believable. The season concludes with their wedding and thus also a massive sense of catharsis for long-time TiBette fans. As one of the most iconic gay couples on TV to date, witnessing their nuptials was also something of a historic cultural moment. It seems, however, that show writers succumbed with reluctance to fan demands with regards to TiBette: The women barely had any screen time at their own wedding, the final episode focused disproportionately on the shenanigans of other characters (Why is Dani rolling on molly the whole time?), and more certainly could have been done to honor the history, impact, and legacy of their relationship. But as the saying goes, “a win is a win,” and seeing Bette and Tina finally get their happily ever after is a victory by any standard. A final critique lies in the character of the show itself. The original “The L Word” was known and loved for its portrayal of drama, yes, but also the friendship and community these women cultivated amongst themselves. In fact, some of the most enjoyable moments from the original series are where all the characters gather at the local gay coffee shop/night club called “The Planet” and simply banter or debrief recent life occurrences. And whenever a crisis struck, any ongoing conflicts were immediately forgotten in favor of everyone rushing to support the woman that needed it. Unfortunately, “Gen Q” just does not capture this same spirit of queer love and camaraderie. Sure, it has events held at the local gay bar and all the characters are intertwined in some way, but they simply do not form a unit in the same way as their predecessors did. “Gen Q” feels more like it tells parallel stories of characters that know each other to some extent, rather than the story of a friend group that would follow each other to

the ends of the earth. Given all these critiques, it would be unfair to the series to not also mention its upsides. It is special simply for existing: There are virtually no other shows about the lives of all queer characters, especially queer women. Actresses Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, and Kate Moennig can be thanked for this, as they fought hard to revive “The L Word” after realizing that no other series filled the space left behind by the OG series following its conclusion. Working with original airing platform, Showtime, in addition to consulting with OG writer Ilene Chaiken before passing the showrunning torch to “Gen Q”’s Marja-Lewis Ryan, the reboot truly had a lot of potential. It is aesthetically pleasant to watch, has high production quality, and features a score of hard hitting queer guest stars including Fletcher, Margaret Cho, Kehlani, Chrishell Stause and G Flip, and Rosie O’Donnell as Tina’s ex, Carrie. It is also impressive that so many original actors return for the series, of course including Beals, Hailey, and Moennig, but also Laurel Holloman as Tina, Daniel Sea as Max Sweeney, and Rose Rollins as Tasha Williams. This is all to say that as imperfect as the show is, it is still worth a watch if only for its strong and diverse queer representation. Unfortunately, its future is looking pretty bleak. One glance at Twitter under the hashtag #thelwordgenq quickly reveals discontent among fans, and the series still has not been renewed. Without Bette and Tina (presumably, since they seem to be making a permanent move to Toronto), the show also loses one of the only pillars currently holding it up. This is not to say that the series is unsalvageable, because it very much is. The foundation and concept are more than solid, but the real question lies in whether the writers and showrunners take viewer critiques seriously and produce the wonderful show that is possible, or if they will continue as they are until “The L Word: Generation Q” simply is no more. julia.hynek@thecrimson.com

Hasty Pudding Crowns Bob Odenkirk Man of the Year BY BRADY M. CONNOLLY CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

When The Hasty Pudding calls Saul, he answers. On the evening of Feb. 2, the centuries-old theater troupe officially deemed actor Bob Odenkirk — best known for his role as Saul Goodman in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” — as the 2023 Man of the Year. Each year, The Hasty Pudding awards the honors of Man and Woman of the Year to “performers who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment.” Odenkirk’s Woman of the Year counterpart, Jennifer Coolidge, was celebrated in a separate ceremony on Feb. 4. Both celebrations mark the start of Hasty Pudding’s 174th production titled “Cosmic Relief,” which runs until March 5 at Farkas Hall. The night’s festivities be-

gan with a light-hearted roast of the award-winning actor, led by Lyndsey R. Mugford ’23 and Nikita Nair ’24, the President and Cast Vice President of “Cosmic Relief,” respectively. The roast started off with both students poking fun at Odenkirk for failing to secure an Emmy or Golden Globe award for playing Saul Goodman, a point of much contention within the “Breaking Bad” fandom. After the roasters launched a few more playful insults at Odenkirk, they made him change into an ill-fitting pink dress. Once adorned, the show continued to take far whackier turns. Hearkening back to Odenkirk’s time as a writer on “Saturday Night Live,” the Hasty Pudding Theatricals tested his cue card reading skills, cleverly tricking the actor into reading lines that mocked his thinning hair. The most memorable moment of the night was when one roaster brought out a

parody “Butter Call Saul” poster and made the actor stick his hands into a large pan of butter. The roast was not completely one-sided, however, as Odenkirk was able to sneak in a few jabs at Harvard during his comedic acceptance speech. The audience burst into laughter when Odenkirk pretended to be reading his notes in the margins of the speech, reminding himself of the high stakes of the moment by exclaiming, “It’s Harvard! They pay $1,000 to go here!” At a press conference following the roast, Odenkirk made it known that he took no offense to the jokes made at his expense. “It was so not brutal. I’m so aware of the thinningness of my hair,” Odenkirk said. The Harvard Crimson asked the actor about his upcoming projects and whether or not he plans on returning to comedy after recently ending his dramatic

tenure as Saul Goodman. Odenkirk called attention to his upcoming television series “Lucky Hank,” which premieres on AMC on March 19 and is co-written by Aaron R. Zelman ’‘95. “It’s a comedy and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to do it was because it’s lighter, way more comedy than ‘Better Call Saul,’ which was very funny at times. But Saul wasn’t kind of in on the joke, he was the joke,” said Odenkirk. After the remainder of the press conference, during which Odenkirk fielded questions about his recent heart attack and sources of motivation as an actor, he and the rest of the crowd in Farkas Hall were shown a brief preview of “Cosmic Relief.” Overall, Odenkirk seemed to enjoy his celebratory trip to Cambridge, sharing that the event was “really fun” before triumphantly kissing his newly awarded pudding pot. That

kiss, however, came shortly after Odenkirk was truly initiated as Man of the Year in iconic Hasty Pudding fashion: with a kiss on both cheeks from Maureen Clare

’23-’24 and Jacob K. Ostfeld ’23, a writer and a cast member of “Cosmic Relief,” respectively. brady.connolly@thecrimson.com

Bob Odenkirk getting roasted by The Hasty Pudding Theatricals at Farkas Hall. SOPHIA C. SCOTT—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

ARTS

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

VISUAL ART

El Fin BILLORDO explores the themes of death, memory, and new beginnings in a series of original pieces. BY KATHERRIN A. BILLORDO CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

recipitated by the passing of my abuelita Isabela Ortiza, the following pieces explore themes of death, memory, and new beginnings. In recreating her wedding portrait, I sought to memorialize my grandmother and reflect on the natural progression of life. I employed a similar method of coping to analyze and explore my family’s spiritual beliefs by creating a ceramic interpretation of the Fall of Man. I created this rendition of my grandparents’ wedding portrait as a tribute and celebration of their lives. The title — “reunited”— references my family’s beliefs about death: that heaven exists and that my abuelito and abuelita are now together once more and embarking on a new journey. The flaky golden beams around the circle represent their burning love and exuberant spirit, roughly resembling the sun’s rays. The interconnected golden hearts — a reference to Kahlo’s “Las dos Fridas” — represent their undying love and connection, implying a continued purpose and life while hinting at their Mexican nationality. Flowers and a thin white ring surround both figures, symbolizing the circle of life, as well as the fragility of my grandmother’s physical state toward her life’s end. My family often found solace in Catholic motifs and sayings in the aftermath of my grandmother’s passing. But where does that sense of comfort come from? What parallels are there between the end of life on Earth and of that described in the Bible? Surrounded by these religious remarks, I created a double incense holder (as incense sticks have traditionally symbolized a sacred form of connection) that makes reference to the Fall and the intricacies of man, as well as the connection between endings and new beginnings. It has two main physical components: Satan in his serpent form holding a backflow cone in his mouth and Adam holding up the incense stick in the ashtray of the serpent’s coil. Although its physical composition clearly has religious overtones, it also touches on broad universal themes of human nature and discontinuation, ultimately leaving its true meaning up to the interpretation of the viewer.

COURTESY OF KATHERRIN A. BILLORDO

A Gorgeous Evening with Gregory Alan Isakov in Boston BY NAJYA S. GAUSE CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

Fans flocked to Boston’s Roadrunner on Jan. 28 when Gregory Alan Isakov stopped on his latest nationwide tour. The south-african singer-songwriter was joined on stage by a five-piece band featuring Guitarist Steve Varney, Violinist Jeb Bows, Bassist John Paul Grigsby, drummer Max Barcelow, and Danny Black on keys. The anticipation in the audience was palpable as Isakov, sporting a casual outfit and a brown brimmed hat, walked onto the darkened stage with his guitar. Isakov kicked off the evening with “Southern Star,” a song off of his most recent album, 2018’s “Evening Machines.” “It’s so damn good to be here,” he said as he proceeded to play “Dark, Dark, Dark,” which he referred to as his “only happy song.” He followed up the somber track with fan favorite “San Luis,” both featured on “Evening Machines.” The interaction between Isakov and the audience during these songs set a spirited tone for the rest of the evening, as Isakov engaged the audience with call and response. The colorful flashing spotlights on stage brought the ven-

ue to life as Isakov continued his set, incorporating songs from his older albums — 2016’s “Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony,” 2013’s “The Weatherman,” and 2009’s “This Empty Northern Hemisphere.” Chills swept through the audience as Isakov performed “Liars,” repeating the phrase “now we’re just liars” with a soaring vocal and instrumental background.

“

If it weren’t for second chances, we’d all be alone. Gregory Alan Isakov

One unforgettable moment from the evening came as Isakov introduced his band-mates recounting how he and guitarist Danny Black had been in a band together when they were twelve years old. The audience could be heard aww-ing as the two reminisced about their shared childhood. The stage lights dimmed as Isakov switched to a lower energy for the end of his set, playing acoustic-heavy songs like “Big Black Car,” “Amsterdam,” “Virginia May,” and “Second Chances.” Couples and friends could be

seen holding each other in the audience, swaying side to side as they absorbed Isakov’s captivating lyrics and melodies, singing “if it weren’t for second chances, we’d all be alone.” Isakov also announced that he has a new record coming out later this year. He gave the audience a sneak peek with a performance of the unreleased “Appaloosa Bones.” The song was a hit with fans, who listened with full smiles and closed eyes, entranced by the softness of Isakov’s voice and guitar. After finishing the set, Isakov and his band thanked the audience to wrap up the set. However, with an audience desperate for more music, they returned to play “Dandelion Wine” and “Saint Valentine.” In the encore they performed the tracks huddled together around a single microphone while laughing and dancing. As the initial encore concluded, Isakov and the band returned to the stage once more for a second encore, playing “All Shades of Blue” before leaving the stage for good. After many special moments, fans left satisfied and excited to hear what’s on the horizon for Gregory Alan Isakov. najya.gause@thecrimson.com

COURTESY OF NAJYA S. GAUSE

FIFTEEN QUESTIONS

THE HARVARD CRIMSON FEBRUARY 10, 2023

organ Ridgway is a historian, poet, and dancer. Their work focuses on urbanity and Indigeneity in the Mid-Atlantic United States. They are writing a book about gathering. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. FM: You’ve been teaching a History and Literature seminar, History and Literature 90FL: “Indigenous in the City,” and I’m wondering how did you decide to create and develop that course?

MR: So I’m from Philly, my mom’s side is Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, and we’re an unremoved community, so we’ve been in our homelands forever, so that’s New Jersey, northern Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, New York City, and upwards into New York state. It’s pretty large, but for me, I’ve always understood Lenape experiences and Native experiences as being really urban. I think there is the prevailing notion that Indigenous people and urban spaces are incompatible, which has a lot to do with the way that Americans are taught history and are taught, if they are taught at all, about Indigenous experiences.

Q&A:

MORGAN RIDGWAY ON URBAN INDIGENEITY, SOLANGE, AND LINEAR TIME THE HISTORIAN sat down with Fifteen Minutes to discuss the way their archival work, poetry, and performance art inform each other. “I think less about events happening sequentially, and more about these moments of aspiration,” they say. BY BENJY WALL-FENG CRIMSON MAGAZINE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FM: You’ve written about settler multiculturalism within, I’m sure, Philadelphia. Do you feel like that understanding or those frameworks shift within the context of Boston or Cambridge or Harvard now that you’re here? MR: Part of the way that money comes into the city is by thinking a lot about diversity. Philly being the “City of Neighborhoods,” it’s actually very important, and has been for a very long time, to showcase the kind of cultural melting pot that Philadelphia is. But Pennsylvania has no recognized tribes. Lenape people are not recognized. Philadelphia is not recognized by the state or by the federal government as being Lenape territory. And so my question is always: How do these conversations around multiculturalism and where we come from and history and the past and this melting of cultures, does that rely on Lenape people continuing not being recognized? And if that’s the case, how do we actually engage in a political conversation? Boston has a similar but also different relationship. I think part of it is that Philly and Boston are both really performative cities. There’s a lot of investment in aesthetics, and particularly aesthetics of the past, of things that seem particularly old, and wanting to preserve that in particular ways. But also, Boston is Indigenous territory in particular ways that they may or may not have jurisdiction over. FM: I have a couple of questions in a different track, because in addition to being a historian and academic, you are also a poet. And first I just want to ask, do you have a favorite poem? MR: I have recently gone back to Billy-Ray Belcourt’s “This Wound is a World.” I’ve been going back to that collection because I’m co-teaching a class in which we’re reading his memoir, “A History of My Brief Body.” I’ve been thinking about his poetic life and thinking about genre-bending — I write poetry as part of my scholarly historical work, and I blend those genres. FM: How do you see your interests and knowledge as a historian informing the rest of your poetic work? MR: In my poetic life, I’m obsessed with the past and how that is constantly informing what I think is possible for me in the future. And I think a lot about loss and grief as these things that

rest that I printed out, like museum-labeled exhibits, to put next to portraits in this room. And I had built two maps that were coming from the archives. If you look at these archives, like this colonial archive, this is the version of the city that you see related to Native people. If you look at this archive that actually talks about Indigenous people in the city, this is the version of the city that you would see, right? So how do you have both of these two things at once, right? People were experiencing the room, going around, and there was music playing — it was kind of a mix of “Dreams” from the Solange album “A Seat at the Table,” and some psychedelic rock instrumental stuff, to build this claustrophobic soundscape. And then I came into the room with this inflatable mattress and did this 15-minute solo piece that was an attempt to get back to this mattress, and I ended up collapsing on it. Everything is silent, and I let the air out of the mattress and it becomes this moment, two and a half minutes, where I become this hypervisible person who has moved themselves to exhaustion. And what does it mean for you to witness the only Lenape person in the room, the only Black Native person in the room, moving into exhaustion? It became part of a conversation with the historical texts that I was writing, around, like — there are people who are coming to the city to build community together, and it’s exhausting. It’s really hard to be Native in Philly. It’s very, very difficult for a lot of different reasons and requires an incredible amount of stamina. And there are people who are witnessing, in the city, this community of people struggle, and they’re not helping. What does that mean, and how do we contend with that? FM: Something that constantly I think has come up in some of the things that you’ve written is the idea of gathering as a practice, and I’m wondering if you could talk a little bit about what that means or what meanings that holds. Your current project deals with gathering as a practice, and I’m wondering if you could talk about what meanings that holds.

MARINA QU—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

are never actually past. I think what happens in my poetic life informs how I understand the archive, and the archives that I use, because I think less about events happening sequentially, and more about these moments of aspiration: People that are already informed by things that they’ve experienced — that are not in the archive — and are shaping what they hope to exist. So all I have is this moment in time in which something might be possible. And part of the work that I try to do, historically, is to say, ‘Okay, how do we read this thing? How do we read this debris that was left behind, of something that did and also did not happen, right? And how did that shape people’s lives? I think in my poetry that’s much easier for me to access. FM: I see your poetry and maybe also your historical work as challenging the notions of linear time and causation, that we generally try to attribute to understanding history. MR: I tell my students this too. Linear time isn’t real. It’s not, and even though you are taught that it exists, that is an imposition, and you don’t actually experience your life that way. Certainly from a Native per-

spective, and I would also say from a Black perspective, that’s not how time works. Like, that just is not true And I think it’s important for us to figure out the language that we need to describe that reality. Poetry is a really, really beautiful space to do that, because it already is given that linearity is not the precedent.

part of my dissertation research and as part of my defense. The book project is talking about performance as a site where we can do a lot of this political imagining. I also do a performance art piece as part of that work. And so, dance as itself a genre of history writing is something I’m still thinking about.

FM: In addition to being a historian and a poet, you are also a dancer. I’m wondering if you could talk about that. What kind of dance do you do, and how long have you been doing it for?

FM: Have you not picked it up as much post-Covid?

MR: I’ve been dancing for over 10 years now. My strongest training, or most intensive training, is in something called Umfundalai, which is a contemporary African technique that was started by the late Dr. Kariamu Welsh, who was also at Temple University in Philly at the time. It’s this fusion, like Western African, sort of Southern African particularly, and modern dance techniques. I started that in college, hit the ground running and never looked back. FM: Have you danced professionally? MR: I have performed in companies and I’ve performed in festivals. I did a performance art piece as

MR: Covid was stressful and continues to be. I had done this performance art piece — it was a site-specific piece, when I was in residence as a fellow at the American Philosophical Society in Philly. It was sort of a combination of dance poetry and mixed media art creation that was thinking about rest and exhaustion and stamina, and thinking about the stamina that’s necessary for Native people to survive in lands that are also theirs, and what does it mean to dwell in that space forever? What does that actually feel like, and how do we imagine the places in the future where we can rest? And so I did this this piece with a with an inflatable mattress above the museum– FM: Wait, sorry, with an inflatable mattress? MR: Yeah! I did a poem series on

MR: The core of the book project is Indigenous gathering practices, and the power of Indigenous social life being a sort of political stance. For me, gathering is kind of critical to our life ways, because there are these ephemeral moments: You come together and then you leave, but in that brief moment, you have the opportunity to imagine what the future might look like in which you are more possible. I think a lot about gathering really broadly. We’re gathering to eat, or gathering to dance, or gathering to play, but we’re also gathering for community meeting. We’re gathering for a lecture, we’re gathering because someone is teaching us something — all of those things are moments in time where the future is not this current present in which it is so difficult to live. This future is different. FM: When you imagine the future, what does it look like? MR: Freedom, for me, is actually having the ability to do the things that we want and to take care of ourselves, take care of our communities, and take care of our people, to have the ability to do that without threat. The future is a future in which we’re free, and meaningfully free — that’s what I want.

FM Fifteen Minutes is the magazine of The Harvard Crimson. To read the full interview and other longform pieces, visit THECRIMSON.COM/ MAGAZINE

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

Harvard Wins an OT Classic MAGIC MAREK First-year forward Marek Hejduk scored with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime to send Harvard to the Beanpot title game BY BRIDGET T. SANDS AND AARON B. SHUCHMAN CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

n a season with championship aspirations, the No. 10 Harvard men’s ice hockey team has leaned heavily on its top-six forwards and a series of late game comebacks to jump into the top 10 of the national rankings. However, in the semifinal of the Beanpot Tournament on Monday night against the Boston College Eagles, the script flipped completely. In an instant classic edition of the storied tournament, the Crimson jumped out to a 3-1 lead before surrendering two goals in the final five minutes of the third period to limp into overtime. However, first-year forward Marek Hejduk, taking advantage of more ice time after a slew of Harvard injuries, scored the game-winner with 1.5 seconds to play in overtime, sending the Crimson to the Beanpot championship game for the first time since 2017. “In order to win, we’ve seen it not only in regular season games, but even in the Beanpot, guys that step up, whether it’s a first year or somebody that maybe everybody wasn’t talking about coming in,” head coach Ted Donato said. Already playing down a top forward after sophomore forward Zakary Karpa missed the game with an upper-body injury, Harvard’s depth was tested further after senior defenseman and captain Henry Thrun departed the contest with an injury of his own. With the Crimson’s bottom two lines not contributing much on the season, as no bottom-six player had more than seven points coming into the contest, Harvard’s depth was tested in one of its most important games of the season, and Hejduk answered the call with the first and last goals of the game. Senior goaltender Mitchell Gibson also turned in one of his finest performances of the season, stopping 45 of 48 shots. “I thought Marek was excellent all game and I think he and his linemates… I thought they did a nice job for us. In order to win, a lot of times the top players can cancel themselves out. So those guys who are a little bit lower down the lineup can really determine whether you have victory or defeat,” Donato said. After raucous player introductions, it appeared that the Crimson had broken the ice within the first minute of action after sophomore Jack Bar finished off a great give-and-go with senior forward and captain John Farinacci. However, Eagles head coach Greg Brown successfully challenged the play, arguing that Harvard had too many men on the ice, and the game remained scoreless. However, the Crimson did not let the challenge deter their offensive push, as it controlled play on offense throughout the period. First-year forward Joe Miller had a great opportunity off a 2-on-1 rush with sophomore forward Matthew Coronato, but BC goaltender Mitch Benson slid across in time to make the save. Junior forward Alex Laferriere soon had a partial breakaway of his own, and sophomore forward Alex Gaffney made a great interception at the offensive blue line to generate a scoring chance, but Benson denied both chances. “You get that shot of adrenaline when you score the goal, especially when a defenseman, Jack Bar, scores it,” Donato said. “We kind of prepared that [Bar’s goal] was going to go against us and so I thought the guys came right back and I thought they carried play right after that.” However, midway through the period, Harvard’s offensive pressure paid off in the opening strike. After sophomore defenseman Ian Moore made a great stretch pass to first-year forward Casey Severo, Hejduk and Severo broke into the offensive zone on the rush. Severo fed a great

Junior forward Sean Farrell battles for the puck against the BC Eagles in the Beanpot semifinal on Feb. 6. Farrell recorded two assists on the night. DYLAN J. GOODMAN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

BY THE NUMBERS

1.5

Hejduk’s overtime winner came with 1.5 seconds left, sending the Crimson to its first Beanpot final since 2017.

45 Senior goaltender Mitchell Gibson posted a season high 45 saves, including 20 in the third period, to backstop Harvard’s win Sophomore forward Matthew Coronato scored two power-play goals in the Beanpot semifinal on Feb. 6. DYLAN J. GOODMAN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior forward Alex Laferriere shields the puck from Boston College in the Beanpot semifinal on Feb. 6. DYLAN J. GOODMAN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

pass to Hejduk as he was cutting down the middle, and Hejduk made a great backhand-forehand move to finish the play off, giving the Crimson a 1-0 lead. Harvard continued to maintain the edge in play after the goal, but the Eagles responded with a strong final shift to generate some momentum heading into the second period down by a goal. BC’s momentum continued on their first shift of the second period, as Eagles captain Marshall Warren made a great move through the middle of the ice to create open space, but Gibson made the save and Thrun cleared the rebound. Only a minute later, the Crimson snuffed out any BC momentum when it capitalized

on a penalty drawn by Farinacci. Junior forward Sean Farrell fired a perfect cross-ice pass to Coronato, who was stationed at the left faceoff circle, and he extended the Harvard advantage to 2-0 with his 15th goal of the season off a one-timer. “Playing together now for four years, we’ve developed some chemistry together,” said Farrell of his dynamic with Coronato. “He’s a really big goal scorer and I try to find him in any spots where he’s ready to shoot. So, I think, a couple really good plays by [Laferriere] and Farinnaci on the power play and I just found [Coronato] in his one-timer spot.” The Eagles began to push back immediately in an attempt to cut

into the deficit, but neither forward Cutter Gauthier or defenseman Eamon Powell were able to beat Gibson, despite some quality chances. However, BC cut the deficit to 2-1 with a power play goal eight minutes into the period. With first-year defenseman Mason Langenbrunner in the box for goaltender interference, forward Mike Posma tipped a cross-ice pass from defenseman Lukas Gustafsson past Gibson to put BC on the board. Despite the Eagles breathing down its neck, Harvard responded with its second power play goal of the period five minutes later, as Farrell again found Coronato with a cross-ice pass for the sophomore’s second

goal of the night. The teams traded chances in the final seven minutes of action, including a dangerous offensive sequence for BC in the waning seconds, but the Crimson held on and maintained a 3-1 cushion heading to the final 20 minutes. “He’s obviously one of the top playmakers and top players in the country. It’s a pleasure for me to get to play with him,” added Coronato regarding his rapport with Farrell. “You definitely got to see the abilities he has tonight– it’s always fun to play with this guy.” Despite successfully defending a two-goal lead against Cornell just over a week ago, Harvard’s defense crumbled in the third period against the incred-

ibly determined Eagles, with BC outshooting the Crimson 22-2 in the final frame. BC got to work in the offensive zone just under a minute into the period, with a strong period of puck possession and passing truncated by dangerous chances for forwards Nikita Nesterenko and Trevor Kuntar. After a Crimson scoring chance for Gaffney, the Eagles went to work again with a 3-on-2 rush that set up another period of sustained pressure. BC generated a flurry of dangerous chances, including a cross-ice pass that just missed forward Colby Ambrosio and a series of opportunities set up by Powell, but Gibson stopped them all before covering a wraparound to stop play. Despite holding back the relentless Eagles attack in the first 15 minutes of the third period, BC finally broke through with just under five minutes to play. After weaving through the offensive zone and past senior defenseman Ryan Siedem, Nesterenko finished off an impressive individual effort with a forehand lifted over Gibson’s right shoulder, cutting the Eagles deficit to 3-2. The overwhelmingly pro-BC crowd, silenced until the final minutes, came to life immediately to aid in the Eagles’ final push to tie the game. Trailing by one, BC kept its foot on the gas. Only seconds after Nesterenko’s tally, Gibson made a point blank save on forward Cam Burke’s one timer, before a chaotic scramble in the crease forced Harvard to ice the puck. With tired players stuck on the ice and the team’s defense struggling to keep up with the Eagles, Donato used his timeout with just under two minutes to play. However, the move proved to be fruitless, as Gauthier’s perfectly placed wrist shot just after the ensuing faceoff tied the game at 3-3, sending the BC fans in attendance into a frenzy. The Crimson had one final chance to win the game in regulation when Coronato and Farrell created a 2-on-1 rush in the dying seconds, but Farrell’s one-timer sailed high, and the two teams headed to a five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime deadlocked at 3-3. “I give Boston College a lot of credit. They put us under a lot of pressure. Certainly in the third period, they kept coming,” Donato said. “They’re very well coached. They have some high end players…I think they had momentum on their side.” In a chaotic extra session, both teams had golden opportunities to secure a berth in the championship game. Only seconds in, Laferriere was left all one in the slot, but his wrister was gobbled up by Benson. Gauthier fired a hard rising shot that sailed over Gibson’s head, while Gustafsson had his own chance off the rush, but he failed to finish it off. With time ticking under 10 seconds and Moore stuck behind the Harvard goal line, it appeared that the game was heading to a shootout to decide the result. However, after a perfect outlet pass from Moore, Laferriere found Hejduk flying down the left wing, and the Parker, Colo. native hammered a one-timer past Benson with under two seconds to play, sending the Crimson to its first championship game since 2017 and sending the team pouring off the bench to celebrate. “With these two rushes I had tonight, I got the puck on my stick and just felt automatic from there,” said Hejduk, who saw his first overtime action of the season in the decisive seconds of the extra session. “I’d have to check but I do think that was the first shift that Marek spent all year in overtime,” Donato said. “We had some guys tired, some guys banged up. I thought he was going and deserved the opportunity and, you know, good for him. He made a tremendous shot there.” The Crimson will return to T.D. Garden next Monday to take on the Northeastern University Huskies at 7:30 p.m. in the Beanpot Championship. Despite the tournament’s 70-year history, this will be the first matchup between Harvard and Northeastern in a Beanpot title game. bridget.sands@thecrimson.com aaron.shuchman@thecrimon.com

SPORTS

THE HARVARD CRIMSON FEBRUARY 10, 2023

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

Harvard Drops Beanpot Semis NO TITLE DEFENSE A fter beating the Eagles in the 2022 Beanpot title game, the Crimson fell flat in the 2023 rematch, as BC shut out Harvard 3-0 to end the Crimson’s hope of repeating as Beanpot champion. BY CHRISTOPHER D. WRIGHT CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

n a rematch of the 2022 Beanpot Championship Final, the Harvard women’s ice hockey (7-15-3, 6-10-3 ECAC) team traversed the Charles River to take on Boston College (17-12-1, 1410-0 HEA) in the opening round of the 2023 Beanpot. Even with the two teams trending in opposite directions record-wise, both coaches recognized the heightened importance that comes with a Beanpot match. “It’s nice to beat them,” said BC head coach Katie Crowley about the Crimson. “It’s always going to be a tough one. It’s always going to be a good, hard-fought battle no matter who you are playing against.” “It’s a great rivalry,” said Harvard head coach Katey Stone. “You want to respect them, and you want to be ready.” This time, it was the Eagles who came out on top in the rivalry. BC took the lead with an early goal by Cayla Barnes and never looked back. After closing out the first period with a one-goal lead, the Eagles piled it on in the second, as they shut out the Crimson and skated to a 3-0 win. Harvard’s first good look at the net came only two minutes into the game. The chance came as first-year forward Sophie Ensley was able to fire in a shot from close that BC goalie Abigail Levy saved. A little over a minute later, the Eagles got onto the board first, thanks to a brilliant pass from forward Caroline Goffredo to defender Cayla Barnes. Goffredo’s cross-ice pass barely evaded the stick of junior forward Shannon Hollands before finding Barnes, who directed it into the top right corner. Despite the goal, the Crimson’s offensive effort continued to put pressure on BC in the first. At the end of the frame, the Eagles only held a one-shot lead on Harvard. Some of the Crimson’s best looks came late in the first after BC was assessed a two-minute minor for hooking. During the power play, senior forwards Anne Bloomer and Kristin Della Rovere sent shots on goal, but they were unable to beat Levy Looking to erase the one-goal deficit, Harvard’s first line came out firing on all cylinders to start the second. Sophomore forward Gabi Davidson Adams almost got the Crimson on the board three minutes into the second frame. After an intercepted pass kept the puck in the offensive zone, Bloomer threaded a pass between several defenders to Davidson Adams, who could not direct the pass on net and missed wide. A few minutes later, Bloomer got her own chance to light the lamp. Following a pass by Della Rovere, Bloomer fired a shot on goal that Levy, the reigning Bertagna Award winner as the best Beanpot goalie, bottled up. The rest of the period, however, belonged to BC. Seconds after a shot from Kate Ham hit the pipe, the Eagles got its insurance goal. After sophomore goalie Alex Pellicci saved a shot, the Harvard defense was unable to fully clear the puck from its defensive zone. As the puck drifted toward the blue line, BC defender Keri Clougherty picked up the puck and laced a slapshot into the back of the goal to net her first career goal. A Harvard interference penalty later in the period gave the Eagles another chance to get on the board on the power play However, the Crimson were able to keep the puck out of its defensive zone and kill the penalty. Unfortunately for the Crimson, a second penalty later in the period would prove too much as BC notched its third goal in the final seconds of the second. Defender Sidney Fess scored

Sophomore goaltender Alex Pellicci makes a save in Women’s Beanpot Semifinal on Feb. 7. COURTESY OF EDDIE MONIGAN—HARVARD ATHLETICS

when her long-range slap snipe bounced into the back right corner of the net as Pellicci could only get a piece of the puck. The Crimson’s second penalty was a point of contention for both coaches. After a long deliberation among the referees that included a video review, sophomore forward Ellie Bayard was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for head contact, giving the Eagles a major opportunity to jump further ahead. “As soon as you’re questioning it, you should probably take a look at it,” said Crowley about the referee’s decision to review the Bayard penalty. “I think they made the right call there.” “To me, it was a hard hockey play,” Stone said. Even though it was staring down a 3-0 deficit entering the third period, Harvard kept pushing throughout the full 60 minutes. The Crimson power play generated quality chances on both of its opportunities in the third frame. Harvard’s best chance came off a faceoff win halfway through the period. Following the faceoff win by Della Rovere, senior captains Kyra Willoughby and Bloomer each launched shots that made Levy work to keep the shutout intact. As a testament to its continued effort, the Crimson pulled its goalie with three minutes left in the game. “I’m really proud of how hard our kids played for 60 minutes,” Stone said. “[Boston College] earned the win tonight, but I certainly think we gave them a heck of an effort.” The loss extended Harvard’s losing streak to three games and adds to what has been a disappointing encore performance following last season’s impressive campaign. For the Crimson, nearly every offensive stat has fallen drastically compared to the previous year. Along with claiming the Beanpot, Ivy League, and ECAC regular season title, the 2021-22 team averaged 36 shots per game and scored at a blistering pace to the tune of 3.4 goals per game. This year, Harvard’s shots per game have dropped to 28, and its

“

The goal is to be the best versions of ourselves each and every day. Kyra M. Willoughby ‘23 Senior Captain

goals per game have plummeted to 1.8. Despite being eight games below .500, the curtain has not descended on the Crimson’s season. Harvard currently rests in eighth place, the final seed to make the ECAC tournament. Just below the Crimson sits Brown (8-16-1, 6-120). In the penultimate game of the regular season for both teams, Harvard will travel to Providence in a pivotal game that could determine the final playoff spot. Similarly to the team’s performance in the Beanpot, the Crimson is committed to finishing the season strong. “The goal is to be the best versions of ourselves each and every day,” Willoughby said. No matter the outcome, the spectacle surrounding the Beanpot makes it a special moment for players. “I grew up going to all the games,” said Ensley about the impact of the Beanpot on her childhood. “A lot of my close friends who I grew up playing with are a part of the Boston team, so it is special to get to play with them.” The Beanpot is also noteworthy for those not native to the area, like Willoughby. “Definitely top three,” said the Minnesota native about where playing in the Beanpot ranks among her hockey experiences. Before facing Boston University in the Beanpot Consolation game on Feb. 14, Harvard will look to earn crucial points in the ECAC standings during its matchup against Clarkson (22-82, 11-6-1) on Feb. 10. Sophomore forward Hannah Chorske attempts a wrap-around in the Women’s Beanpot Semifinal COURTESY OF EDDIE MONIGAN—HARVARD ATHLETICS

christopher.wright@thecrimson.com

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Basketball Drops Two Ivies AT THE BUZZER Harvard’s men’s basketball has dropped three consecutive Ivy League games, decreasing hopes for the Ivy tournament in March. BY ALEXANDER K. BELL CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

few short weeks ago, Harvard men’s basketball (12-11, 3-6 Ivy) was 3-3 in the Ivy League and fresh off of scoring a season-high 95 points in a scintillating 95-89 home victory over Cornell (157, 5-4 Ivy). The Crimson had yet to lose any back-to-back games against league opponents and maintained a strong defensive force. After Saturday’s 68-65 loss to Brown (12-10, 5-4 Ivy), Harvard now sits seventh in the Ivy League and has lost three games in a row. Despite nearly completing several miraculous comebacks, the Crimson has nothing to show for its efforts and is left searching for answers. HARVARD OUTPLAYED BY YALE, 68-57

The energetic band playing to a sold-out Lavietes Pavilion set the tone for a game that started at a frantic pace. With both teams desperate to assert their control, the stakes of a rivalry matchup were clear from tip-off. Yale (16-6, 6-3 Ivy) jumped out with an early lead with sophomore guard Bez Mbeng and senior forward EJ Jarvis, who scored a game-high 18 points against Harvard in a 5854 victory on Jan. 7, demonstrating the Bulldogs’ physicality. “They really took it to us in the paint,” head coach Tommy Amaker said. “The post guys for their team were aggressive early on the offensive glass. The points in the paint were an indication of the physicality and aggressiveness of their team, not just with their shooting, but with the offensive rebound opportunities.” With six minutes gone, Harvard fought back to level the score at 9-9. That margin would not last long, as the Bulldogs immediately started to pull away. Yale’s direct, high-energy play seemed to overwhelm the Crimson. The physical presence of Jarvis in the paint proved a persistent pain for the Harvard defense and when shots were forced wide, Yale shot an impressive 5-for-9 (55.6%) first-half three-point rate – the defensive resilience that has defined Harvard’s play this season was being compromised by a relentless offensive performance by Yale. On the other end of the court, Harvard struggled as well. From the three-point range, the Crimson didn’t make a single shot in the first half, going 0-for-5. In many games this season, Harvard has compensated for poor three-point shooting with dominance inside the paint, but against the Bulldogs, the Crimson shot 6-for-21 (28.6%) in the opening 20 minutes compared to their opponents 17-for-33 (51.5%). The result of a dismal first half for Harvard was a 17-point deficit at the break. In order to give themselves any chance, the Crimson desperately needed a change in pace for the second half. Half-time sub, first-year guard Chandler Piggé, recorded a steal in Yale’s first possession, but as the shot clock ran down, senior guard Idan Tretout was forced to take a tough three-pointer which

Senior guard Chris Ledlum shoots high for a two-pointer in a 68-57 at-home loss to Yale last weekend. DYLAN J. GOODMAN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

missed the rim, continuing Harvard’s three-point catastrophe. Throughout the game, Harvard struggled to create quality shot opportunities, typically using the full-time allotted by the shot clock, yet still failing to consistently get points on the board. “There’s an old saying ‘be quick but don’t hurry’,” Amaker said. “We looked and played like we were in a hurry. With the pressure rising we were trying to do things in a rush instead of being sharp and quick.” Despite its poor play at times, the Crimson was an improved team in the second period and

managed to cut a 19-point Bulldog lead to five with several minutes left in the game. The game came to an inflection point with 1:40 left on the clock. Solid Harvard defense forced Yale sophomore guard John Poulakidas to take a deep three-pointer which wrapped around the rim before harmlessly being rebounded by the Crimson. Tretout then surged upcourt with intent, driving to the rim before faking a shot and pivoting to sling a pass back to senior co-captain Luka Sakota, who stood open on the edge of the three. A

made shot would have brought the Crimson within three points of a lead at 62-60, but the ball bounced off the rim, keeping the deficit at 62-57. “I was proud of our guys for giving great effort and giving it an opportunity to go our way in the second half.” Amaker reflected. “I thought we had a moment there (with Luka’s three). That would’ve been a big one for us to see how the game would’ve evolved.” Yale scored all six of the remaining points in the game to win 68-57, condemning Harvard to a fourth consecutive defeat against the Bulldogs.

GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK

HARVARD COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT VS. BROWN, 68-65 Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the Yale game, the Crimson took home court again for a Saturday-night matchup against Brown. Harvard started quickly, getting points on the board within the opening five seconds with a layup from junior forward Justice Ajogbor. It immediately became clear that Brown had come to play as the Bears surged into a 10-2 lead through seven quick points from senior guard Paxson

Wojcik. Brown’s Wojcik remained a pain in the side of the Crimson throughout the game, recording a game-high 23 points and sinking several deep three-pointers while relentlessly driving at the Crimson defense. After the game, Wojcik reflected on his approach. “They got us at home a couple of weeks ago so we knew we had to get them back,” Wojcik said. “They’re a great team, we knew it was gonna be a dog fight. I’m just proud of the way we played and came out with the win.” At the end of the first half, the game was still neck-to-neck. A pair of Tretout free throws had the game tied at 26-26 before the Bears used the final five seconds to throw down another lay-up and reclaim a two-point lead. What ultimately sealed Harvard’s fate was a span of six minutes in the second period. Harvard came out of the break playing positively, exchanging baskets with Brown and taking a 34-33 lead with 17:24 left in the game. The Crimson then suffered a rare defensive collapse in which Brown scored 16 consecutive points unanswered to make it a 15-point game. “We put ourselves in a hole,” Amaker said after the game. “We did it last night and again tonight, and that’s not good for us. We don’t have the kind of firepower where we can blast our way out of it. We’re not that kind of offensive juggernaut where we can just go on a 16-0 run. That’s not who we’ve been and that’s not who we are.” Despite its shortcomings, Harvard worked hard and got into a position to tie the game late on. With 6 seconds on the clock, Sakota hit a 3-pointer, and sophomore guard Evan Nelson immediately fouled Wojcik on the inbound, sending Wojcik to the free throw line with the opportunity to shoot two and put the game out of reach. Wojcik, however, only made one of two free throws, leaving the game within one shot of overtime with three seconds left on the clock. In a desperate final attempt, first-year forward Chisom Okpara heaved the ball forward to senior forward Chris Ledlum who out-jumped two defenders to give himself a half-second to release a buzzer-beating three-point shot. As Lavietes Pavilion rose to its feet, the ball missed just wide, sending the Brown bench into celebration. “Most of the time you get what you deserve and, in my opinion, we weren’t deserving of victory,” Amaker said. “We fought hard to try to get it and sometimes you can not deserve to win and still win and we were trying to make that happen, but obviously we’ll take it and try to get better from it.” To make the Ivy Madness tournament at the end of the season, the Crimson will need to make use of their five remaining games to climb into the top four. In that vein, Harvard will look to set themselves back on track when they host Penn next Saturday at 2:00 pm. On Jan. 28, the Crimson lost to the Quakers in an 83-68 battle in Philadelphia but now will play with an added sense of urgency. Penn (13-11, 5-4 Ivy) sits tied for third place behind Princeton (166, 7-2 Ivy) and Yale. alexander.bell@thecrimson.com

THC

FRIDAY, 2/10

SATURDAY, 2/11

SUNDAY, 2/12

Wrestling vs. Columbia 6:00 pm, Malkin Athletic Center Women’s Hockey vs. Clarkson 6:00 pm, Bright-Landry Hockey Center

Wrestling vs. Hofstra 12:00 pm, Malkin Athletic Center Men’s and Women’s Squash vs. St. Lawrence 12:00 pm, Murr Center

Men’s Basketball vs. Penn 2:00 pm, Lavietes Pavillion

Men’s and Women’s Squash vs. St. Lawrence 12:00 pm, Murr Center